Finally, one of Friday’s rulings upheld a requirement that effectively bars people with felony convictions from voting in North Carolina until all aspects of their sentences, including fines and fees, have been fulfilled. This requirement, which impacts more than 50,000 people in the state, had been called racist and exclusionary in the past due to its disproportionate impact on Black people in the state. In voting alongside his fellow Republicans to uphold the law, Justice Trey Allen ruled that “the General Assembly did not engage in racial discrimination or otherwise violate the North Carolina Constitution by requiring individuals with felony convictions to complete their sentences — including probation, parole, or post-release supervision — before they regain the right to vote.”

Together, these three rulings constitute huge victories for Republicans in North Carolina while alarming those who advocate for free and fair voting for all North Carolinians, including Black voters. Dr. Rev. William Barber II called this series of rulings a “a coup d’état by the North Carolina Supreme Court.” Rev. Barber added that “five Republicans—all white—with two African-Americans dissenting, decided to be the focal point of voter suppression in North Carolina.”

We just witnessed a political massacre and a coup d’état by the North Carolina Supreme Court. Five Republicans—all white—with two African-Americans dissenting, decided to be the focal point of voter suppression in North Carolina.

— Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (@RevDrBarber) April 28, 2023