RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Roy Cooper held a press conference on Tuesday, addressing an Elections Board bill which passed the State Senate. Cooper is planning to veto the bill. 

• The governor says he will sign an Elections Board bill if a particular part of it is taken out.
• The first part of the bill would return the Board of Elections to a "traditional structure."
• Cooper says that Part 4 of the bill would provide "more protections for politicians and others who violate campaign finance laws."

Cooper said in the conference he thought the allegations of election fraud in Bladen County would give lawmakers more tools to fight election fraud, and that he was surprised to find part 4.

"Instead, we get House Bill 1029, which is now on my desk. This bill makes it harder to root out corruption in elections and campaign finance. This bill was a rushed job that at first glance, is an improvement. In the beginning of the bill, legislators finally do what the courts have told them to do for a year and a half, return the Board of Elections to a traditional structure, [but] in Part 4, it provides more protections for politicians and others who violate campaign finance laws," said Cooper. 

He continued, "I know this bill passed by a subnational margin, but it was rushed through with a legislative maneuver that allowed for no amendments from any member."

The governor says he'd sign the bill if Part 4 is taken out. "I urge legislators not to delay. Pass the bill without Part 4, and I will sign it and legislators and staff can go home for Christmas. This is a time we must strengthen confidence and our elections, not weaken it. Let’s get this right, let’s get this done. Fix it this week, and I will sign it." 

Sen. Berger released the following statement following Cooper's conference: