This shocking loophole could see anti-LGBT Governor re-elected, despite losing the election
North Carolina Repubiclan Gov. Pat McCrory is trying to claim he won an election – despite his opponent getting more votes than him.
Gov. McCrory became notorious for his defence of the HB2 bill – legislation which bans transgender people from using public toilets and changing rooms that correspond with their gender identity.
On November 8 Gov. McCrory’s 25 years in state politics looked to be up, when his Democratic rival, Roy Cooper, received 7,448 more votes than him.
However he is now making claims of voter fraud in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the election – and he could be about to win.
Gov. McCrory has questioned votes in more than half of North Carolina’s counties.
One attorney monitoring the proceedings called these challenges, “silly, small in number, poorly researched and often defamatory”.
Republican-controlled county election boards have forcefully rejected Gov. McCrory’s challenges, concluding that there is simply no proof of widespread fraud.
Yet he could still be declared winner of the election.
North Carolina state law says that if the legitimacy of the election and voting process is questioned, it’s up to the state legislature to decide who is the winner.
By making claims of voter fraud – which election bodies involved have profusely denied – he may be able to force a vote before his state legislators.
The Republican controlled legislature could declare this viciously anti-LGBT Governor re-elected by saying he received the most “legitimate votes”, even though his opponent received more votes.
The law also declares the legislature’s ruling “non-reviewable” – meaning no court can challenge the decision.
Democrats and LGBT activists are said to be furious at the loophole, claiming Republicans are trying to steal the election.
The Republican-led legislature previously passed the transphobic HB2 law in less than 12 hours.
The law is thought to have cost the state almost $400m in boycotts and lost business.