Statement on Gov. Cooper's Decision to Permit Private Funding of Vote-Counting Operation

Sen. Newton: "This is potentially the beginning of a destabilizing era in which a core function of democracy – counting the votes – is funded by private interests."

Raleigh, N.C. – Gov. Roy Cooper today vetoed Senate Bill 725, which would have prohibited private funding of elections administration. Recent polling shows startling percentages of voters across all ideologies question whether the 2022 election will be "free and fair."

Sen. Paul Newton, who co-chairs the Senate Elections Committee, said, "Private interests paying for vote collection and counting raises natural suspicions about election integrity. Gov. Cooper is setting a dangerous standard by not doing everything in his power to increase voter confidence."

Sen. Newton continued, "There is nothing more quintessential to the role of government than funding and administering elections. Strangely, Gov. Cooper wants them funded by private interests. The amount of legislative funding for elections is not the issue. This is potentially the beginning of a destabilizing era in which a core function of democracy – counting the votes – is funded by private interests."