RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) -- Governor Roy Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein sued Republican legislative leaders on Monday over recent changes to the State Board of Elections and county boards of elections, according to a statement released by the governor's office. Cooper and Stein say the changes violate the separation of powers established in the North Carolina Constitution.  “We have had the same structure for our state board of elections for nearly a century, and it has served North Carolina well with fair and secure elections across our state through every cycle,” Cooper said. “These blatantly partisan efforts to give control over elections boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose.” The changes were a part of Senate Bill 382, which was enacted along straight party lines in December over Cooper’s veto. The challenged provisions would transfer all appointments to the SBoE away from the governor to the recently elected Republican state auditor. The state auditor would also be given the ability to appoint the chair of each county board of election, transferring that power away from the governor. “In recent years, these legislative leaders have repeatedly tried and failed to seize control of the SBoEfor their own partisan gain,” Stein said. “This latest move insults the voters who rejected their power grab, violates our constitution and must not stand”