North Carolina
US Supreme Court rejects North Carolina GOP claim that could have upended elections
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Supreme Court, in a closely watched case with major ramifications for federal elections, ruled on Tuesday that state legislatures do not have unchecked power to decide voting laws.
In a 6-3 decision penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, the nation’s highest court rejected the so-called “independent state legislature” theory.
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina had argued before the court in December that state legislatures should have the sole authority to decide who votes, where and how in presidential and congressional elections.
The prospect had raised concerns for democracy on the left — and to a lesser extent on the right — in a bitterly divided nation still reeling from former president Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results.
State legislatures have used their authority under the US Constitution’s Elections Clause to map congressional districts, set poll hours and agree on rules for voter registration and mail-in and absentee ballots.
They have also, at times, engaged in what is known as partisan gerrymandering — drawing up congressional districts to favor a particular political party.
Reggie Weaver, at podium, speaks outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh, North Carolina, Feb. 15, 2022, about a partisan gerrymandering ruling by the North Carolina Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson, File)
Their laws have been subject, however, to scrutiny by the state courts and North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers were seeking to do away with that judicial input.
The Supreme Court rejected that bid with Roberts and two other conservatives — Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — siding with the three liberal justices.
“The Elections Clause does not insulate state legislatures from the ordinary exercise of state judicial review,” Roberts wrote.
Obama welcomes ruling
Former Democratic president Barack Obama welcomed the decision.
“Today, the Supreme Court rejected the fringe independent state legislature theory that threatened to upend our democracy and dismantle our system of checks and balances,” Obama tweeted.
Abha Khanna, who represented the plaintiffs in the case, called the ruling a “resounding victory for free and fair elections in the United States.”
“The Independent State Legislature Theory could have weakened the foundation of our democracy, removing a crucial check on state legislatures,” Khanna said in a statement.
Members of the US Supreme Court pose for a group photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021. Seated from left are Associate Justice Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Standing from left are Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP)
During oral arguments before the Supreme Court in December, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the administration of Democratic US President Joe Biden, warned that accepting the “independent state legislature” doctrine would “wreak havoc” in the running of elections and “sow chaos on the ground.”
“State and federal elections would have to be administered under divergent rules,” Prelogar said. “And federal courts, including this court, would be flooded with new claims.”
There were also worries that a ruling in favor of the theory would allow state legislatures to override outcomes they disagreed with, as some Trump supporters had called for in the 2020 election.
The case, Moore v. Harper, stemmed from an electoral dispute in North Carolina.
The 2020 census found that the state’s population had increased, earning it an extra seat in the US House of Representatives.
North Carolina lawmakers redrew the congressional map to add a new district but the state supreme court threw it out, arguing that it favored Republicans by grouping Democrats in certain districts, diluting their vote.
North Carolina lawmakers appealed to the Supreme Court arguing that local courts were usurping their authority.
As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.
It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.
This is a reminder that we are heading into the heart of the hurricane season and to make sure your emergency supplies are ready.
Stay with WITN and WITN.com as we continue to track this system over the coming days and monitor the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Copyright 2024 WITN. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
Alabama man on work trip stops to buy $3 quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot
Christopher Baker of Leesburg, Alabama was on a work trip in Hickory, North Carolina, when he thought he’d try his luck on a lotto game. It turned out to be a lucrative Powerball win.
An Alabama man on a work trip in North Carolina bought a $3 Quick Pick Powerball ticket on a whim and walked away with a six-figure windfall.
Christopher Baker of Leesburg in northeastern Alabama bought his lucky ticket in July in Hickory, North Carolina, where had been traveling for work, according to Powerball.
When the numbers were drawn, Baker says he had to do a double-take when he realized he had a $100,000 winning ticket. He had matched four white balls and the red Powerball, which would have been $50,000, but a 2X multiplier doubled the win and the disbelief.
“I just kept looking at it to make sure I was reading it right,” he laughed, according to Powerball. “I told my family but they didn’t believe me. either.”
Baker, who called his win “a shocker.” said he plans to save his winnings to buy a house.
Baker will take home $71,501 after federal and state taxes are withheld.
How to play the Powerball
In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.
Players can also ask a cashier for a “Quick Pick” where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.
Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there’s no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.
Where to purchase tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
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