WRAL:

North Carolina Republicans will have new powers over elections, public schools, utilities and more under a wide-ranging new law that strips control from the governor, attorney general and other incoming Democrats.

Senate Bill 382, which became law Wednesday after an override by the GOP-led state House of Representatives, is expected to have major ramifications for the future of state government — if it survives an expected legal battle over executive power.\The House voted along party lines to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the 131-page measure. The vote — which came amid protests from Democrats and progressive groups — followed an override by the GOP-led state Senate last week.

Republicans have said some of the changes were needed to improve public confidence in government. Democrats, however, say it’s an unconstitutional, partisan power-grab that will significantly weaken the executive branch. Incoming Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein and his replacement as attorney general, Democrat Jeff Jackson, are the main targets of the legislation.

The law takes away the governor’s control over the State Board of Elections and gives it to the state auditor, an office soon to be held by a Republican. Seizing control of the elections board has long been a goal of Republican lawmakers, but multiple past efforts have either been ruled unconstitutional or shot down by voters at the ballot box….

[This post has been corrected and updated]