Noting the watchful eye of a federal court, the State Board of Elections voted to restore Sunday early voting hours in several counties that had offered the option – popular among African-American voters – in 2012.

The board also voted to add early voting hours in counties where schedules had been cut. But in party line votes, the board’s Republican majority rejected efforts to add Sunday voting in counties that hadn’t previously offered it.

Some of the decisions put members of the board’s Republican majority at odds with their party’s leaders, who had lobbied extensively for fewer early voting opportunities and the elimination of Sunday voting. The board was charged with settling disputed early voting schedules in 33 counties where the local board vote wasn’t unanimous….

In Mecklenburg, the Republican election board majority reduced early voting hours from 2012, providing six sites during the first week of the early voting period. The Democrat on the board wanted 22 sites during that week – the same number offered during the rest of the period. The state board instead opted for 10 sites in the first week.

“I don’t see how the majority plan can function for the needs of Mecklenburg County,” Baker said. The state board’s attorney, Josh Lawson, said the GOP plan would be a “risky move” that could run afoul of a federal court ruling on North Carolina’s election law.

Making the case for less early voting, Mecklenburg election board member Liz McDowell said the lack of precinct judges at early voting sites leads to problems such as “voter harassment.” She says voters are “victimized by too enthusiastic campaign officials” who follow them into the polls and tell them how to vote. State law bans campaigning inside polling places.

”Are you serious?” state board member Joshua Malcolm asked McDowell.

Malcolm, a Democrat, said the 10-site plan the state board approved will still lead to problems in Mecklenburg. “I think this is going to be the poster child of what not to do,” he said.