As part of our elections coverage, QCity Metro invited readers to submit questions to our reporting team, which we seek to answer in a way that provides factual information free of politics. Read more at the end of this article.
Question: Tell me about the different roles in the process of elections locally and at the state levels. Who makes our elections happen, and who certifies the results?
Answer: The states, not the federal government, have the vast majority of the power over elections in America. That’s why some states have voter identification requirements and some don’t. Some states, including North Carolina, have early voting, and others don’t.
For the past 20-plus years, North Carolina has provided relatively more opportunities to vote than many other states, says Eric Heberlig, professor of political science at UNC Charlotte.
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There is same-day registration and early voting available for a month prior to Election Day, the choice to mail-in ballots, and the option to vote on Election Day.
Election oversight
The most important body in North Carolina elections is the State Board of Elections, the state agency charged with the administration of the elections process and campaign finance disclosure and compliance. Members are appointed by the Governor and include Democrats and Republicans.
Counties, however, have substantial power as well through their county boards of election. The counties decide how many polling places to have, how to staff then, and how to conduct many of the nuts and bolts of elections within their borders.
Together, the state board and the county boards of election ensure elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.
Each county board of elections is made up of five members who are registered voters within that county. The State Board of Elections appointments four members – two Democrats and two Republicans – to a two-year term. The state chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties recommend registered voters for the board The governor appoints the fifth member, or the chair, of the county board. Each board member takes an oath that includes supporting the Constitution of the United States.
Certification
Each county board of elections counts eligible ballots and certifies the results. The North Carolina Board of Elections then certifies the results for the state. The State Board of Elections website has details on how the 2020 election results were certified.
Heberlig, the UNC Charlotte professor, noted that the decentralized nature of the U.S. election process helps ensure the integrity of our election systems, adding: “Our elections are extremely secure. Partially because our elections are so decentralized, it would be nearly impossible to hack our elections.”
QCity Metro believes that Democracy matters.
For much of 2022, our reporters and editors have taken part in a nationwide fellowship called Democracy SOS, which encourages newsrooms to reimagine how they cover elections, with a goal to build civic engagement, equity and healthy discourse.
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What are the issues that matter most as your prepare to vote in this key election? And what related questions can our QCity Metro reporters help answer?
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