Do we want more people to vote or not?

One of the cornerstones of America’s Democratic Republic is our right to elect those who would lead us. And in almost every election, whether municipal, statewide or national, there are orchestrated Get Out the Vote campaigns urging all registered voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote. We have traditionally believed that the larger the number who vote, the more likely we will choose good leaders. 

Our state and nation have implemented measures to encourage voting, including voting by mail, early voting prior to election day and curbside voting for those with mobility issues. In 2020, our state turnout for the presidential election was 75.35%, the highest since the 1972 election. The 2024 presidential turnout declined to 73.73%.

But some recent events have raised doubts about whether we really want more people to vote.

In 2013, our Republican controlled legislature suggested that there might be voter fraud in our elections, though no evidence was ever presented to back up those claims; they passed a law requiring voters to present photo identification before getting a ballot. The bill met with opposition, largely from minority groups who complained that many who don’t drive won’t have a photo ID. Court cases ensued over what was a legitimate ID. In 2018, a Constitutional Amendment passed affirming Voter ID.

North Carolina allows any registered voter to request an absentee ballot. Historically, that ballot would be counted if postmarked by election day and received within three days of the election, understanding the US Mail service might sometimes delay overseas and other ballots. But in 2023, our legislature, again citing possible fraud, decided that an absentee ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on election day; must contain a state driver’s license number, state ID card number or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number; and be verified by two witness signatures.

Voters obviously prefer to vote early rather than on election day. In 2024, 72.6% voted early, only 19.8% were same day voters and 5.12% came from absentee ballots. But both our legislative chambers have proposed measures that would reduce the number of days for early voting, reducing the number of Sundays to as few as one. A Senate proposal would require voters to register with a party one full year before voting, instead of the current 90 days.

Legislators say more early voting days puts more financial and personnel strains on our counties, since counties are responsible for staffing and paying for elections. But if legislators really wanted to help our counties they could open their pocketbooks and reimburse their costs.

Here’s the real reason for early voting changes: Republicans can count. 49% of early votes were cast by Democrats and 43% came from Republicans. Black voters participate in large numbers on Sundays through “Souls to the Polls” efforts in their churches. Restrictions on early voting will improve their chances to win, Republicans believe.

Republicans have already stacked the deck by gerrymandering our congressional and legislative districts.

It might frighten you to know just how much is known about you. “Big Brother” knows far more than you might think: where you live, how much you earn, where you spend your money, what causes you support, how frequently you vote and any political contributions you have made. They know what clothes you wear, what brands you buy, what leisure activities you enjoy, your work history, education history and with whom you associate. Political operatives can use this data to determine what political district you will be assigned to and can surgically carve out districts that benefit their party…and they do.

Republicans want people to vote. They just want THEIR people to vote. And if Democrats were in charge, they would no doubt do the same. But neither Democrats nor Republicans truly want more people to vote. If they did, they wouldn’t ignore the largest voting bloc in the state.

Former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr recently told a crowd that our elections exclude the largest segment of voters. Unaffiliated voters now amount to 39% of registered voters. Republicans come in second at 30.25% and Democrats are 30.21%, according to recently published data from Carolina Public Press.

These Unaffiliated voters have no voice of their own. Unaffiliated candidates don’t appear on a ballot unless they can collect an unreasonably large number of signatures to gain ballot access. Only one Unaffiliated or Independent has been elected to our General Assembly and none have won a congressional seat or become a member of our Council of State.

If we truly believe that our system works best when the largest number participate, we can no longer ignore this group. We must revise our elections so Unaffiliated voters can fully participate and be elected.

If we aren’t willing to change, we have proved we really don’t want more people to vote.

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@ncspin.com