Republican Clocks Get Cleaned at the Guilford Co. Board of Elections

With the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals adding seven days to Early Voting, the NC State Board of Elections (SBOE) has opened the door for county BOEs to muck about, and the Guilford County BOE decided -- actually announced last week -- that it would be extending Early Voting only at the BOE's office downtown and that it would also be closing sites at UNCG and NC A&T and at Barber Park, a majority black polling place.

That was the Republican plan until noon today when the Guilford BOE called its emergency meeting and watched the place swarm with protesters who "filled every seat and lined the walls" (reporting by Kate Elizabeth Queram in the Greensboro News&Record). Take a look at the video.

Board of Elections members were drowned out for most of the proceedings by the audience, who shouted for a public comment period and eventually linked arms and began singing, "We Shall Not Be Moved."

Board of Elections Chairwoman Kathryn Lindley pleaded with the crowd to be quiet. Eventually, board members pushed their chairs back from their microphones and debated behind the dais as the crowd chanted, clapped and sang.

Something big happened in that meeting behind the dais that nobody could hear. The Republicans caved. They approved more Early Voting hours than in 2012, kept the two college Early Voting sites and the black precinct site, and kept weekend hours.

Power to the people!