North Triangle News

North Carolina Republican lawmakers proposed a bill that would prevent an all-mail ballot election, the Laurinburg Exchange reported. 

If passed, the State Board of Elections wouldn't be able to shift to a mail-only balloting system for the upcoming election, according to the Laurinburg Exchange on May 26. 

"Legislation to ban mail-only elections is currently being considered," Rep. Lisa Barnes (R-Franklin) said on Facebook. "The bill would also tighten oversight for voting by absentee ballot, provide funding for the 2020 elections and prohibit sending ballots to voters that didn't request them."

But the new legislation, House Bill 1169, would allow the Board of Election to reduce the number of witnesses for absentee ballots and allow for absentee ballots to be faxed or emailed, the Laurinburg Exchange reported. It would also allow for postage to be paid for and absentee ballots wouldn't be counted until after the election day. 

“We appreciate that the General Assembly has taken our recommendations to heart and put forward a bill that ensures accessible, safe, and secure elections in 2020,”  Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, said in a statement, according to Laurinburg Exchange. “This is a positive step forward for North Carolina voters.”