SB 749 · 2023-2024 · Senate

No Partisan Advantage in Elections.

Misleading 5/5signedStowaway

What It Actually Does

This bill restructures election administration by transferring appointment power for state and county election boards from bipartisan executive appointments to partisan legislative appointments.

The bill removes the Governor's authority to appoint State Board of Elections members and transfers all appointment power to legislative leaders. It increases the state board from 5 to 8 members, all appointed by the General Assembly leadership. Similarly, it changes county election board appointments from the current bipartisan system to legislative appointments, and allows legislative leaders to bypass party recommendations entirely.

Why the name is misleading

The title 'No Partisan Advantage in Elections' implies the bill reduces partisanship, when it actually does the opposite by concentrating election administration appointments in the hands of partisan legislative leaders and eliminating bipartisan executive oversight.

Status

Signed into law

Governor action:signed

Votes

10/10/2023 1:09 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Motion 11 Veto Override · Senate

Senate Vote · Failed 30–19

30 to override

R Yea (30)D Yea (0)D Nay (19)

✓ 30 votes, crossed 30-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

30/30 (100%)

0/20 (0%)

10/10/2023 1:42 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Veto Override · House

House Vote · Failed 72–44

72 to override

R Yea (72)D Yea (0)D Nay (44)

✓ 72 votes, crossed 72-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

72/72 (100%)

0/48 (0%)

6/21/2023 6:38 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Second Reading · Senate

Senate Vote · Failed 28–19

30 to override

R Yea (28)D Yea (0)D Nay (19)

✗ 28 votes, fell short of 30-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

28/30 (93%)

0/20 (0%)

9/19/2023 5:31 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Second Reading · House

House Vote · Failed 60–41

72 to override

R Yea (60)D Yea (0)D Nay (41)

✗ 60 votes, fell short of 72-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

60/72 (83%)

0/48 (0%)

9/20/2023 3:28 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Motion 9 To Concur · Senate

Senate Vote · Failed 0–45

30 to override

R Yea (0)D Yea (0)R Nay (26)D Nay (19)

✗ 0 votes, fell short of 30-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

0/30 (0%)

0/20 (0%)

9/21/2023 10:34 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. C RPT Adoption · House

House Vote · Failed 63–44

72 to override

R Yea (63)D Yea (0)D Nay (44)Absent (2)

✗ 63 votes, fell short of 72-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

63/72 (88%)

0/48 (0%)

9/22/2023 10:25 AM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Conference Report Motion 8 To Adopt · Senate

Senate Vote · Failed 26–17

30 to override

R Yea (26)D Yea (0)D Nay (17)

✗ 26 votes, fell short of 30-vote threshold

Party Breakdown

26/30 (87%)

0/20 (0%)

Roll Call

How They Voted

Senate · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Motion 11 Veto Override · 10/10/2023 1:09 PM

50 legislators · Senate

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Alexander	R	-	Yea
B. Newton	R	-	Yea
Barnes	R	-	Yea
Berger (Chair)	R	-	Yea
Britt	R	-	Yea
Burgin	R	-	Yea
Corbin	R	-	Yea
Craven	R	-	Yea
Daniel	R	-	Yea
Ford	R	-	Yea
Galey	R	-	Yea
Hanig	R	-	Yea
Hise	R	-	Yea
Jackson	R	-	Yea
Jarvis	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
Krawiec	R	-	Yea
Lazzara	R	-	Yea
Lee	R	-	Yea
McInnis	R	-	Yea
Moffitt	R	-	Yea
Overcash	R	-	Yea
P. Newton	R	-	Yea
Perry	R	-	Yea
Proctor	R	-	Yea
Rabon	R	-	Yea
Sanderson	R	-	Yea
Sawrey	R	-	Yea
Sawyer	R	-	Yea
Settle	R	-	Yea
Adcock	D	-	Nay
Applewhite	D	-	Nay
Batch	D	-	Nay
Blue	D	-	Nay
Bode	D	-	Nay
Chaudhuri	D	-	Nay
Garrett	D	-	Nay
Grafstein	D	-	Nay
Hunt	D	-	Nay
Lowe	D	-	Nay
Marcus	D	-	Nay
Mayfield	D	-	Nay
Meyer	D	-	Nay
Mohammed	D	-	Nay
Murdock	D	-	Nay
Robinson	D	-	Nay
Salvador	D	-	Nay
Smith	D	-	Nay
Waddell	D	-	Nay
Woodard	D	-	Excused Absence

House · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Veto Override · 10/10/2023 1:42 PM

120 legislators · House

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Adams	R	-	Yea
Arp	R	-	Yea
B. Jones	R	-	Yea
Balkcom	R	-	Yea
Bell	R	-	Yea
Biggs	R	-	Yea
Blackwell	R	-	Yea
Bradford	R	-	Yea
Brisson	R	-	Yea
Brody	R	-	Yea
Cairns	R	-	Yea
Carson Smith	R	-	Yea
Chesser	R	-	Yea
Clampitt	R	-	Yea
Cleveland	R	-	Yea
Cotham	R	-	Yea
Crutchfield	R	-	Yea
D. Hall	R	-	Yea
Davis	R	-	Yea
Dixon	R	-	Yea
Elmore	R	-	Yea
Faircloth	R	-	Yea
Fontenot	R	-	Yea
Gillespie	R	-	Yea
Goodwin	R	-	Yea
Greene	R	-	Yea
Hardister	R	-	Yea
Hastings	R	-	Yea
Howard	R	-	Yea
Humphrey	R	-	Yea
Iler	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
K. Baker	R	-	Yea
K. Hall	R	-	Yea
Kidwell	R	-	Yea
Lambeth	R	-	Yea
Loftis	R	-	Yea
Lowery	R	-	Yea
McNeely	R	-	Yea
Miller	R	-	Yea
Mills	R	-	Yea
Moore (Speaker)	R	-	Yea
Moss	R	-	Yea
N. Jackson	R	-	Yea
Paré	R	-	Yea
Penny	R	-	Yea
Pickett	R	-	Yea
Pike	R	-	Yea
Pless	R	-	Yea
Potts	R	-	Yea
Pyrtle	R	-	Yea
Reeder	R	-	Yea
Riddell	R	-	Yea
Ross	R	-	Yea
Saine	R	-	Yea
Sasser	R	-	Yea
Sauls	R	-	Yea
Setzer	R	-	Yea
Shepard	R	-	Yea
Sossamon	R	-	Yea
Stevens	R	-	Yea
Strickland	R	-	Yea
Torbett	R	-	Yea
Tyson	R	-	Yea
Ward	R	-	Yea
Warren	R	-	Yea
Watford	R	-	Yea
Wheatley	R	-	Yea
White	R	-	Yea
Willis	R	-	Yea
Winslow	R	-	Yea
Zenger	R	-	Yea
A. Baker	D	-	Nay
A. Jones	D	-	Nay
Ager	D	-	Nay
Alexander	D	-	Excused Absence
Alston	D	-	Nay
Autry	D	-	Nay
Ball	D	-	Nay
Belk	D	-	Nay
Brockman	D	-	Excused Absence
Buansi	D	-	Nay
Budd	D	-	Nay
Butler	D	-	Nay
Carney	D	-	Nay
Cervania	D	-	Nay
Charles Smith	D	-	Nay
Clemmons	D	-	Nay
Crawford	D	-	Nay
Cunningham	D	-	Nay
Dahle	D	-	Nay
Everitt	D	-	Nay
F. Jackson	D	-	Nay
G. Brown	D	-	Nay
Gill	D	-	Nay
Harris	D	-	Nay
Harrison	D	-	Nay
Hawkins	D	-	Nay
Jeffers	D	-	Nay
John	D	-	Nay
K. Brown	D	-	Nay
Liu	D	-	Nay
Lofton	D	-	Nay
Logan	D	-	Nay
Longest	D	-	Nay
Lucas	D	-	Nay
Majeed	D	-	Nay
Morey	D	-	Nay
Pierce	D	-	Nay
Prather	D	-	Nay
Price	D	-	Nay
Quick	D	-	Nay
Reives	D	-	Nay
Roberson	D	-	Excused Absence
Rudow	D	-	Excused Absence
Staton-Williams	D	-	Nay
T. Brown	D	-	Nay
von Haefen	D	-	Nay
Willingham	D	-	Nay
Wray	D	-	Nay

Senate · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Second Reading · 6/21/2023 6:38 PM

50 legislators · Senate

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Alexander	R	-	Yea
B. Newton	R	-	Yea
Barnes	R	-	Yea
Berger (Chair)	R	-	Yea
Britt	R	-	Excused Absence
Burgin	R	-	Excused Absence
Corbin	R	-	Yea
Craven	R	-	Yea
Daniel	R	-	Yea
Ford	R	-	Yea
Galey	R	-	Yea
Hanig	R	-	Yea
Hise	R	-	Yea
Jackson	R	-	Yea
Jarvis	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
Krawiec	R	-	Yea
Lazzara	R	-	Yea
Lee	R	-	Yea
McInnis	R	-	Yea
Moffitt	R	-	Yea
Overcash	R	-	Yea
P. Newton	R	-	Yea
Perry	R	-	Yea
Proctor	R	-	Yea
Rabon	R	-	Yea
Sanderson	R	-	Yea
Sawrey	R	-	Yea
Sawyer	R	-	Yea
Settle	R	-	Yea
Adcock	D	-	Nay
Applewhite	D	-	Nay
Batch	D	-	Nay
Blue	D	-	Nay
Bode	D	-	Nay
Chaudhuri	D	-	Nay
Garrett	D	-	Nay
Grafstein	D	-	Nay
Hunt	D	-	Nay
Lowe	D	-	Nay
Marcus	D	-	Nay
Mayfield	D	-	Nay
Meyer	D	-	Nay
Mohammed	D	-	Nay
Murdock	D	-	Excused Absence
Robinson	D	-	Nay
Salvador	D	-	Nay
Smith	D	-	Nay
Waddell	D	-	Nay
Woodard	D	-	Nay

House · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Second Reading · 9/19/2023 5:31 PM

120 legislators · House

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Adams	R	-	Excused Absence
Arp	R	-	Yea
B. Jones	R	-	Yea
Balkcom	R	-	Yea
Bell	R	-	Yea
Biggs	R	-	Yea
Blackwell	R	-	Excused Absence
Bradford	R	-	Yea
Brisson	R	-	Yea
Brody	R	-	Yea
Cairns	R	-	Yea
Carson Smith	R	-	Excused Absence
Chesser	R	-	Yea
Clampitt	R	-	Yea
Cleveland	R	-	Yea
Cotham	R	-	Yea
Crutchfield	R	-	Yea
D. Hall	R	-	Yea
Davis	R	-	Yea
Dixon	R	-	Yea
Elmore	R	-	Excused Absence
Faircloth	R	-	Yea
Fontenot	R	-	Yea
Gillespie	R	-	Yea
Goodwin	R	-	Yea
Greene	R	-	Yea
Hardister	R	-	Yea
Hastings	R	-	Yea
Howard	R	-	Excused Absence
Humphrey	R	-	Yea
Iler	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
K. Baker	R	-	Excused Absence
K. Hall	R	-	Yea
Kidwell	R	-	Yea
Lambeth	R	-	Yea
Loftis	R	-	Excused Absence
Lowery	R	-	Yea
McNeely	R	-	Yea
Miller	R	-	Yea
Mills	R	-	Yea
Moore (Speaker)	R	-	Yea
Moss	R	-	Yea
N. Jackson	R	-	Yea
Paré	R	-	Yea
Penny	R	-	Yea
Pickett	R	-	Yea
Pike	R	-	Yea
Pless	R	-	Yea
Potts	R	-	Yea
Pyrtle	R	-	Yea
Reeder	R	-	Yea
Riddell	R	-	Yea
Ross	R	-	Yea
Saine	R	-	Yea
Sasser	R	-	Yea
Sauls	R	-	Yea
Setzer	R	-	Yea
Shepard	R	-	Yea
Sossamon	R	-	Yea
Stevens	R	-	Excused Absence
Strickland	R	-	Yea
Torbett	R	-	Excused Absence
Tyson	R	-	Yea
Ward	R	-	Yea
Warren	R	-	Yea
Watford	R	-	Excused Absence
Wheatley	R	-	Excused Absence
White	R	-	Yea
Willis	R	-	Yea
Winslow	R	-	Excused Absence
Zenger	R	-	Yea
A. Baker	D	-	Nay
A. Jones	D	-	Nay
Ager	D	-	Nay
Alexander	D	-	Excused Absence
Alston	D	-	Nay
Autry	D	-	Nay
Ball	D	-	Excused Absence
Belk	D	-	Nay
Brockman	D	-	Nay
Buansi	D	-	Nay
Budd	D	-	Nay
Butler	D	-	Nay
Carney	D	-	Nay
Cervania	D	-	Nay
Charles Smith	D	-	Nay
Clemmons	D	-	Nay
Crawford	D	-	Nay
Cunningham	D	-	Nay
Dahle	D	-	Nay
Everitt	D	-	Nay
F. Jackson	D	-	Nay
G. Brown	D	-	Nay
Gill	D	-	Excused Absence
Harris	D	-	Nay
Harrison	D	-	Nay
Hawkins	D	-	Excused Absence
Jeffers	D	-	Nay
John	D	-	Nay
K. Brown	D	-	Nay
Liu	D	-	Nay
Lofton	D	-	Nay
Logan	D	-	Nay
Longest	D	-	Nay
Lucas	D	-	Nay
Majeed	D	-	Nay
Morey	D	-	Nay
Pierce	D	-	Nay
Prather	D	-	Nay
Price	D	-	Nay
Quick	D	-	Nay
Reives	D	-	Excused Absence
Roberson	D	-	Nay
Rudow	D	-	Nay
Staton-Williams	D	-	Excused Absence
T. Brown	D	-	Excused Absence
von Haefen	D	-	Nay
Willingham	D	-	Nay
Wray	D	-	Nay

Senate · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Motion 9 To Concur · 9/20/2023 3:28 PM

50 legislators · Senate

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Alexander	R	-	Excused Absence
B. Newton	R	-	Nay
Barnes	R	-	Nay
Berger (Chair)	R	-	Nay
Britt	R	-	Nay
Burgin	R	-	Nay
Corbin	R	-	Nay
Craven	R	-	Nay
Daniel	R	-	Nay
Ford	R	-	Nay
Galey	R	-	Nay
Hanig	R	-	Nay
Hise	R	-	Nay
Jackson	R	-	Nay
Jarvis	R	-	Nay
Johnson	R	-	Nay
Krawiec	R	-	Nay
Lazzara	R	-	Nay
Lee	R	-	Excused Absence
McInnis	R	-	Nay
Moffitt	R	-	Excused Absence
Overcash	R	-	Nay
P. Newton	R	-	Nay
Perry	R	-	Nay
Proctor	R	-	Excused Absence
Rabon	R	-	Nay
Sanderson	R	-	Nay
Sawrey	R	-	Nay
Sawyer	R	-	Nay
Settle	R	-	Nay
Adcock	D	-	Nay
Applewhite	D	-	Nay
Batch	D	-	Nay
Blue	D	-	Nay
Bode	D	-	Nay
Chaudhuri	D	-	Nay
Garrett	D	-	Nay
Grafstein	D	-	Nay
Hunt	D	-	Nay
Lowe	D	-	Nay
Marcus	D	-	Nay
Mayfield	D	-	Nay
Meyer	D	-	Nay
Mohammed	D	-	Nay
Murdock	D	-	Nay
Robinson	D	-	Nay
Salvador	D	-	Excused Absence
Smith	D	-	Nay
Waddell	D	-	Nay
Woodard	D	-	Nay

Highlighted rows indicate crossover votes.

House · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. C RPT Adoption · 9/21/2023 10:34 PM

120 legislators · House

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Adams	R	-	Yea
Arp	R	-	Yea
B. Jones	R	-	Yea
Balkcom	R	-	Yea
Bell	R	-	Yea
Biggs	R	-	Yea
Blackwell	R	-	Excused Absence
Bradford	R	-	Yea
Brisson	R	-	Yea
Brody	R	-	Yea
Cairns	R	-	Yea
Carson Smith	R	-	Yea
Chesser	R	-	Yea
Clampitt	R	-	Yea
Cleveland	R	-	Excused Absence
Cotham	R	-	Yea
Crutchfield	R	-	Yea
D. Hall	R	-	Yea
Davis	R	-	Yea
Dixon	R	-	Yea
Elmore	R	-	Yea
Faircloth	R	-	Yea
Fontenot	R	-	Yea
Gillespie	R	-	Yea
Goodwin	R	-	Yea
Greene	R	-	Yea
Hardister	R	-	Yea
Hastings	R	-	Excused Absence
Howard	R	-	Excused Absence
Humphrey	R	-	Not Voting
Iler	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
K. Baker	R	-	Yea
K. Hall	R	-	Yea
Kidwell	R	-	Yea
Lambeth	R	-	Yea
Loftis	R	-	Yea
Lowery	R	-	Not Voting
McNeely	R	-	Yea
Miller	R	-	Yea
Mills	R	-	Yea
Moore (Speaker)	R	-	Yea
Moss	R	-	Yea
N. Jackson	R	-	Yea
Paré	R	-	Yea
Penny	R	-	Yea
Pickett	R	-	Yea
Pike	R	-	Yea
Pless	R	-	Yea
Potts	R	-	Yea
Pyrtle	R	-	Yea
Reeder	R	-	Yea
Riddell	R	-	Yea
Ross	R	-	Yea
Saine	R	-	Yea
Sasser	R	-	Yea
Sauls	R	-	Yea
Setzer	R	-	Yea
Shepard	R	-	Yea
Sossamon	R	-	Yea
Stevens	R	-	Excused Absence
Strickland	R	-	Yea
Torbett	R	-	Yea
Tyson	R	-	Yea
Ward	R	-	Yea
Warren	R	-	Yea
Watford	R	-	Excused Absence
Wheatley	R	-	Yea
White	R	-	Yea
Willis	R	-	Excused Absence
Winslow	R	-	Yea
Zenger	R	-	Yea
A. Baker	D	-	Nay
A. Jones	D	-	Nay
Ager	D	-	Nay
Alexander	D	-	Excused Absence
Alston	D	-	Nay
Autry	D	-	Nay
Ball	D	-	Nay
Belk	D	-	Nay
Brockman	D	-	Nay
Buansi	D	-	Nay
Budd	D	-	Nay
Butler	D	-	Nay
Carney	D	-	Nay
Cervania	D	-	Nay
Charles Smith	D	-	Nay
Clemmons	D	-	Nay
Crawford	D	-	Nay
Cunningham	D	-	Nay
Dahle	D	-	Nay
Everitt	D	-	Nay
F. Jackson	D	-	Nay
G. Brown	D	-	Nay
Gill	D	-	Excused Absence
Harris	D	-	Nay
Harrison	D	-	Nay
Hawkins	D	-	Excused Absence
Jeffers	D	-	Nay
John	D	-	Nay
K. Brown	D	-	Nay
Liu	D	-	Nay
Lofton	D	-	Nay
Logan	D	-	Excused Absence
Longest	D	-	Nay
Lucas	D	-	Nay
Majeed	D	-	Nay
Morey	D	-	Nay
Pierce	D	-	Nay
Prather	D	-	Nay
Price	D	-	Nay
Quick	D	-	Nay
Reives	D	-	Nay
Roberson	D	-	Nay
Rudow	D	-	Nay
Staton-Williams	D	-	Nay
T. Brown	D	-	Nay
von Haefen	D	-	Nay
Willingham	D	-	Nay
Wray	D	-	Nay

Senate · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Conference Report Motion 8 To Adopt · 9/22/2023 10:25 AM

50 legislators · Senate

Name ↕	Party ↑	District ↕	Vote ↕
Alexander	R	-	Excused Absence
B. Newton	R	-	Yea
Barnes	R	-	Yea
Berger (Chair)	R	-	Yea
Britt	R	-	Excused Absence
Burgin	R	-	Yea
Corbin	R	-	Yea
Craven	R	-	Yea
Daniel	R	-	Excused Absence
Ford	R	-	Yea
Galey	R	-	Yea
Hanig	R	-	Yea
Hise	R	-	Yea
Jackson	R	-	Yea
Jarvis	R	-	Yea
Johnson	R	-	Yea
Krawiec	R	-	Yea
Lazzara	R	-	Yea
Lee	R	-	Yea
McInnis	R	-	Yea
Moffitt	R	-	Yea
Overcash	R	-	Yea
P. Newton	R	-	Yea
Perry	R	-	Yea
Proctor	R	-	Excused Absence
Rabon	R	-	Yea
Sanderson	R	-	Yea
Sawrey	R	-	Yea
Sawyer	R	-	Yea
Settle	R	-	Yea
Adcock	D	-	Excused Absence
Applewhite	D	-	Nay
Batch	D	-	Nay
Blue	D	-	Nay
Bode	D	-	Nay
Chaudhuri	D	-	Nay
Garrett	D	-	Nay
Grafstein	D	-	Nay
Hunt	D	-	Nay
Lowe	D	-	Nay
Marcus	D	-	Nay
Mayfield	D	-	Nay
Meyer	D	-	Nay
Mohammed	D	-	Nay
Murdock	D	-	Nay
Robinson	D	-	Nay
Salvador	D	-	Excused Absence
Smith	D	-	Excused Absence
Waddell	D	-	Nay
Woodard	D	-	Nay

Stowaway Provisions

An elections restructuring bill contains unrelated provisions about Environmental Management Commission appointments, Board of Transportation changes, and vehicle registration corrections that have nothing to do with elections.

The bill's stated purpose: Restructuring North Carolina's election boards by changing appointment processes, moving from 5 to 8 members on the State Board of Elections, transferring appointment authority from Governor to General Assembly, and related election administration changes

What was hidden inside: Part VI includes changes to Environmental Management Commission composition and chair election requirements, Board of Transportation chair election requirements, Coastal Resources Commission changes, North Carolina Railroad Board changes, and corrections to vehicle registration statutes (GS 20-30)

Sources

Bill page on ncleg.gov →