Voting law no help to GOP
Published October 12, 2014
Editorial by Greenville Daily Reflector, October 11, 2014.
Wednesday’s ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, effectively reinstating overturned components of North Carolina’s 2013 voting law, does nothing to further the cause of conservatism among those most affected by the law. That’s a shame, because conservatism has a lot to offer.
Conservatives believe, rightly, that government alone cannot solve poverty and inequality. Republicans generally insist that less government is better government.
And yet the GOP-controlled General Assembly took a legitimate “voter ID” law and added in enough government to make it feel downright oppressive to those most affected — blacks and young people.
Preventing voter fraud was the rallying cry for establishing a law to require identification before voting. That makes sense. There is nothing wrong with asking voters to show proof of their identity, a perfectly legitimate requirement for completing any number of other transactions in modern society.
Added to the law, however, were components that shift hours for early voting, close polling places on the Saturday before the election, bar same-day registration during early voting, disqualify out-of-precinct votes and discontinue programs that preregister high school students to vote.
What possible element of voter fraud is being eliminated by stopping the practice of encouraging high school students to exercise their civic duty as soon as they are of legal age to do so?
No significant instances of voter fraud have been exposed, in fact. But on the same day of the Supreme Court ruling, the Government Accountability Office — the investigative arm of Congress — issued a report suggesting that new voter laws in several states are responsible for fewer votes cast in 2012 — especially among young voters and black voters.
Lawsuits seeking to have the law declared unconstitutional may never prevail, but the legislation’s series of rule rearrangement is, at the very least, petty politics at its very worst.
Republicans should be working to convince young people and black voters that embracing conservative ideals would work to their advantage. Unfortunately, this political gamesmanship aimed at discouraging voting is far more likely to only further widen the deep political divide in this state and elsewhere.
In the long term, that will not help Republicans at all.
http://www.reflector.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-voting-law-no-help-gop-2679479
October 12, 2014 at 10:30 am
Richard Bunce says:
14 States have NO early voting period, many of them in the Northeastern US, and 40 States have NO same day registration. Are all these other States suppressing their voters?
October 16, 2014 at 12:02 am
Richard Bunce says:
We either have voting rules or we do not. I am for every person eligible to vote to vote... most of them most of the time do not bother... a good turnout is when half of the registered voters show up... and the registered voters are not nearly all of the eligible voters.
Every illegal vote cast disenfranchises all legal votes.
IF we do not want there to be any rules then we need to get rid of the rules including in the Federal and State Constitutions. So anyone can vote anywhere they want, as often as they want, whenever they want, as many times as they want... and get rid of the requirements to be at least 18, not in prison, not a felon (in many States), a citizen, a resident (to register in a County), and alive... these are all voter suppression by your definition.
But you did not answer the question... are the 10 States, mostly in the NE US, with NO early voting engaging in voter suppression? Are the 40 States all around the Country with NO same day registration engaging in voter suppression?
October 16, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Curt Budd says:
Actually, I did answer. I replied, "Yes. They are." If they arent encouraging all eligible voters to vote, then yes there is a problem. We had rules for voting. What was wrong with them? I've stated before, I have no problem with a Voter ID. I might even go so far as to say you should have some type of 10 question basic knowledge of the U.S quiz or something to be eligible. But you CANT be that naive to think all of the new laws werent politically motivated? I guess you think gerrymandering districts is okay also? Both parties do it. That doesnt make it right. Dont give me voter fraud as the motivation. What does pre-registering 17 yr old students to be ready to vote when they are 18 have to do with voter fraud?
October 17, 2014 at 11:26 am
Richard Bunce says:
I have espoused on many occasions may proposed fix to redistricting using computer algorithms whose ONLY inputs are number of districts to draw, land area to be divided, distribution of population within that land area, and possibly existing County or equivalent lines. Absolutely no voter demographic data other than location is to be used in the algorithm. NOT age, sex, party affiliation, religion, ethnicity, etc.
What does pre-registration accomplish that registration at 18 does not accomplish other than cost more money? If registering before you are eligible to vote then not having to re-register when you are eligible to vote is certainly an invitation to voter fraud. That persons status could have changed from when they did not actually register to vote.
10 States have no early voting, mostly in the NE, are those predominantly Democratic Party majority State suppressing the vote? 40 State have no same day registration are those predominantly Democratic Party majority State suppressing the vote?
For instance in NC you must be a citizen of the US to bother register to vote and vote. Either we verify citizenship or we just take everyone at their word. If we take everyone at their word to register then we might as well take everyone at their word to vote and do away with registration. Anyone shows up at the polling place can cast a ballot. No checking of any kind. I have significant mobility so I can move all around the County, State, even Country and vote in many elections in the weeks before election day. I kind of like that... however the US and State Constitutions state that is not allowed... so we check.
I am also for online voting or all mail voting as at least two States are doing. That would be far cheaper in the long run and no more fraudulent, particularly online voting.
October 13, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Curt Budd says:
Yes. They are. I agree completely with the article. Conservatives had a golden opportunity to attract independent and swing voters by passing a voter ID law. But then piling on all the other features made it blatantly obvious what was trying to be accomplished(voter suppression). In my opinion conservatives will have to deal with blowback now.
In my opinion, the same thing is happening on the national level. Republicans should have won the last presidential election and should be in an easily winnable 2016 election. But they let extremists turn off independent voters by not being willing to win small.victories over time to get to their final goals.
October 13, 2014 at 11:03 pm
Richard Bunce says:
So are the 10 States, mostly in the NE US, with NO early voting engaging in voter suppression? Are the 40 States all around the Country with NO same day registration engaging in voter suppression? Or is it just the NC Legislature Republican majority for which you are able to divine intent?
October 15, 2014 at 8:21 am
Curt Budd says:
Why are you scared of having more people participate in the voting process? Particularly young people and minorities? Are you afraid that perhaps they dont share the same ideaology as yourself?
October 17, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Curt Budd says:
The point is, this shouldnt be a Republican vs Democrat issue. If you are Republican and you believe that the policies you support are in-line with the majority of the people being represented, wouldnt you want as many eligible, legal voters to vote?
Using myself as an example, I always have to go to work early and stay late on election day. So my options are, take off work, stand in a line for hours and miss work, or not vote. Under the proposed law, there will be fewer polling places, and fewer(or no) early voting period. Maybe I want to vote for some of the same ideas that you support. Wouldnt you like for me to have that opportunity?
I dont live in the Northeast, so I dont know if they have more available polling places or maybe they give more workers off on election days to make it more convenient. I honestly dont know.
But again, you cant be that naive to think that NC's new laws are about saving money or controlling voter fraud??
October 19, 2014 at 11:48 am
Richard Bunce says:
I do want as many ELIGIBLE, LEGAL voters to vote... why don't you want to check at registration time and at voting time IF the person in question is ELIGIBLE and LEGAL? If 10 States have no early voting, many in the NE US, and 40 State have NO same day registration how is NC cutting early voting days slightly while keeping hours about the same and also have no same day registration where checking for ELIGIBLE and LEGAL voters is a challenge same as 40 other States this massive new burden on NC voters. IF someone does not vote this cycle it is their own fault, not the NC Legislature.
October 21, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Curt Budd says:
Alright Mr. Bunce, I'm going to go about this another way, which historical election in NC do you know of, or even suspect was wrongly decided because of true voter fraud? Because that's the reason given for ALL these changes at once. Sorry, I don't buy it. And again, I think it was dumb politically. Conservatives overplayed their hand.
October 22, 2014 at 9:53 am
Richard Bunce says:
Since nobody was checking IDs, we have no idea how many illegal votes were cast. A single illegal vote disfranchises every legal vote.
October 22, 2014 at 9:55 am
Richard Bunce says:
Early voting reduction was not because of voter fraud, it was a cost saving measure, fewer days, more hours per day. Same day registration is a voter fraud issue since the County would not have time to verify voter eligibility before vote is official.
