RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on lawsuits filed by Gov. Roy Cooper, state Supreme Court candidates and others seeking to block legislation addressing what’s on this fall’s ballots (all times local):
4:45 p.m.
A judge is ordering North Carolina election officials not to finalize ballots while she receives more information about lawsuits filed by two judicial candidates fighting a new law that would leave off their new political affiliations.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Holt didn’t rule specifically Monday whether Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin and District Court hopeful Rebecca Edwards would have their party labels on the ballots, like their opponents. Holt asked lawyers for the candidates and for state officials the candidates sued earlier Monday to file briefs and prepare for an Aug. 13 hearing.
The General Assembly finalized a bill over the weekend that says a judicial candidate’s party won’t be on the ballot if the person changed parties less than 90 days before filing.
State election officials have said the deadline for language for statewide ballot items is this week. It’s unclear what a delay would mean.
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11:55 a.m.
A flurry of late-hour lawsuits is trying to block referendums on constitutional amendments that North Carolina Republican legislators approved for this fall and to let a Supreme Court candidate disclose his party affiliation on the ballot.
Three lawsuits were filed Monday in Wake County court against GOP legislative leaders - one by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, another by two interest groups and a third by Supreme Court hopeful Chris Anglin.
Cooper wants two of the six constitutional amendments the legislature submitted to voters off the ballot. The North Carolina NAACP and Clean Air Carolina are seeking to block four. Anglin says his rights are violated because lawmakers prevented him from putting a Republican label next to his name.
Legal action comes days before state election officials must finalize composing ballots.
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