NC House ending remote voting for lawmakers

North Carolina’s state House moved this week to end remote voting in the chamber after it was instituted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Associated Press reported that in-person voting rules went back into effect this week, although some committee meetings may be held partially online as technology allows.

The North Carolina state Senate was unaffected, as it never moved to allow fully remote voting by members.

North Carolina has seen its rate of new COVID-19 cases remain virtually steady after the state recovered from a surge that occurred over January and February.

State officials recorded just under 4,200 new cases on Monday.

Last May, the U.S. House moved to implement remote voting as well, and it was renewed in January.

House Democrats told The Hill in March that they were willing to consider proxy voting on a permanent basis — even if it’s just for limited circumstances.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said it was a question lawmakers would likely discuss as a potential option under limited circumstances, especially given how many Republicans were embracing the practice.

“I think there will be discussion about, should we be able to vote remotely in other circumstances post-COVID-19,” Hoyer said. “There is really, you know, no magic in being in a particular room when you vote.”

The House Democrats’ chief deputy whip, Rep. Dan Kildee (Mich.), at the time expressed support for allowing proxy voting in limited circumstances, such as the inability to travel due to a long-term illness.