GOP-led NC panel finds early-voting compromise amid protests

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A Republican-led panel considered but ultimately shelved an early-voting plan Monday that could have made casting ballots more difficult for college students and black residents in North Carolina's third most populous county, despite federal court orders to undo what's been ruled a discriminatory ballot access law.

A raucous crowd of 300 people packed the Guilford County Board of Elections meeting, determined to be heard in opposition to the Republican chairwoman's proposal, which would have cut a dozen early voting sites while complying with the letter of the appellate ruling.

Past election data show 56 percent of all voters this fall will use early voting, Strach wrote.

Since Gov. Pat McCrory is a Republican, the state board and all the county boards have Republican majorities, and the state board makes final decisions when county boards don't reach unanimous agreements.