New voter ID law bring a measure of protection for legitimate voters
Published June 20, 2015
by Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina, June 18, 2015.
On the heels of hundreds of citizen complaints at voter ID hearings across the state, and after years of mounting public and legal pressure, we are pleased that the NC General Assembly has decided to modify the needless voter ID hurdle that North Carolina voters will face starting in 2016.
Even if just one percent of registered voters do not have, or forget to bring, an acceptable government photo ID, that would mean over 60,000 North Carolinian would be cheated out of having their voices heard in an election.
The new provisions add a measure of protection for legitimate voters, a back-up way to provide documentation or confidential data that verify the person at the poll is the voter. They still require the extra time and uncertainty of filling out a provisional ballot, but that’s better than being forced to make two trips to a polling place.
In the context of a needless and likely unconstitutional law, this is clearly a victory for citizens and citizen participation. During his comments today about HB-836, Rep. David Lewis acknowledged the importance of citizen voices at the recent voter ID rule-making public hearings across the state. Democracy North Carolinaplayed a leading role in encouraging hundreds of citizens to attend and speak out at these hearings, and we will continue to work hard to make sure no one is blocked from voting.
Two other points about today’s changes are vitally important. First, most states that have ID provisions include versions of the back-up protections adopted today; not including them threatened to sink the entire ID requirement in a fair court of law.
Second, other provisions remain in the anti-voter Monster Law that are already denying honest citizens their right to vote. Earlier this week, Democracy NC released a report that identified 2,344 voters whose ballots were rejected in 2014 because of changes made by that law; their ballots would have counted in 2012. They are the visible tip of the iceberg of the tens of thousands of voters harmed by the many parts of the Monster Law.
We hope that these other measures, along with the convoluted ID requirement, will soon be struck down in court – particularly the elimination of same-day registration, pre-registration for teens, and out-of-precinct provisional ballots.
June 20, 2015 at 10:34 am
Norm Kelly says:
Is Democracy NC a lib organization?
Or is DNC more interested in fair, verifiable elections? Trick question. One that most libs will fail. As will most media types. Usually the same group! Not only is DNC a lib organization, they aren't interested in fair, honest elections. And they are obviously interested in continuing the myth that voter fraud doesn't exist, and that blacks in droves are incapable of proving who they are for the simple reason that their skin is dark!
If I submit a bill from the electric company showing my street address, I can vote? Based on what accurate information? Does this prove I'm voting legally?
So, once again Republicans caved. Is anyone surprised? Or does it just show that those of us who voted for REAL CHANGE, expecting the direction of the state to turn around, were fooled? How many times can Republican pols turn on voters and continue to be elected?
It's almost always true that the majority of CITIZENS are better off under a Republican government than a lib, socialist, demon government. Even when Republicans fail to do the right thing, we're still better off than when libs rule. But what if there's a third party candidate who will actually govern properly, correctly, and to the right? What if there's a candidate who will do the RIGHT thing, the proper thing, and insure that voting is fair, legal, accurate? Some of us who prefer honesty, legality, citizenship, the rule of law will vote for that candidate. What will that do to election results. Temporarily it will mean some dishonest, socialist, law-avoiding demon pol will win the election. But it will eventually send a message to Republican leadership. The message will be 'govern the way you are supposed to or we won't vote for you'. If there's so little difference between a Republican candidate and the socialist party candidate, then some of us will start supporting the 3rd party law-abiding, honest, non-socialist, anti-illegal-alien candidate. Yes, we will be in worse shape for allowing a socialist to be elected, but eventually either Republicans will get the message or the 3rd party will eliminate some Republican candidates. In favor of CITIZENS!
It's time that 'leaders' of some groups stop claiming their group members are so incapable of doing anything on their own. It's time that 'leaders', like the Rev Buffet Slayer, stop claiming that all of his group are failures BECAUSE of 'white privilege'. It's time that some of these 'leaders' start claiming their groups ARE capable, can stand on their own, have intelligence, and don't need to be led around like lost sheep. Why is it that when one of their group manages to stand on their own, they are so vilified? Why is it that when one of their group is able to get a proper picture ID to vote, the 'leaders' of the group claim they are an anomaly?
It's time that some members of these groups start standing up to their supposed leaders and prove those 'leaders' completely wrong. And then be very public about being such puppets of the masters. When is a leader not a leader? When that leader is holding their group back. When the leader actually makes things worse for the group members. Like when demons paid blacks for votes, breaking up families so the kindly, loving white boys could be the 'father' of the family. For the sole purpose of buying votes, not out of love for the families they helped destroy.
But I'm just an ignorant, privileged white boy, what could I possibly know about ANY minority group. My life has been greased by the fact that I was born white, into a middle-class family. My entire future was guaranteed just because, only because, for no other reason than the fact of my birth. Just ask some of those 'leaders' and they'll tell you I didn't have to worry for my entire life. Except that's just another lie those 'leaders' tell. Some day I hope to experience 'privilege'. But until then I'll continue to work my butt off. As will my wife. To put food on the table. To pay for our home. To continue to enjoy life with our kids & grandkids. But it takes a LOT of work. Which I've never complained about. But I've never expected anything from any pol in order to grease the skids for me. And I've never accepted from any 'leader' that I was incapable. We need more people to stand up for themselves, and tell socialists like the current occupier that they are dead wrong!
June 24, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Frank Burns says:
Democracy NC is a fraudulent non profit declaring itself non partisan. They are most certainly highly partisan to the left and commit fraud on the public by calling themselves non partisan. They should be tarred and feathered.
