Local & State
| Mecklenburg to decide early-voting hours and locations Monday |
| Panel must decide strategy by Aug. 19 |
| Published Saturday, August 13, 2016 12:34 am |
Mecklenburg County’s early voting strategy will be decided Monday.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Elections will meet in public session at 5 p.m. at the 741 Kenilworth Ave., Suite 202.
The meeting comes on the heels of a July 29 decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the North Carolina’s Voter ID law. This decision eliminated the photo identification restriction while restoring same-day registration, pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and out-of-precinct voting. Counties have to decide by Aug. 19 a strategy to make as many of 17 days of early voting available between Oct. 20-Nov. 5.
The N.C. NAACP, which has been aggressive in taking on voter ID and other ballot restrictions, is monitoring the process.
“We want every county board of election to know that the NC NAACP stands for fair, accessible and open early voting plans that ensure full and equal access to the ballot this November,” President William Barber wrote constituents in an email Friday.
A Republican-led panel in Guilford County, which includes Greensboro, shelved an early-voting plan last week that would have reduced hours and the number of sites near college campuses and black neighborhoods. Guilford has North Carolina’s third-largest population. Mecklenburg is first with a little more than 1 million people.
About 300 people packed the Guilford Board of Elections meeting to voice opposition to the Republican chairwoman's proposal, which would have complied with the federal ruling but cut a dozen early voting sites.
The panel – two Republicans and a Democrat – voted unanimously for a compromise that kept early voting sites open at UNC Greensboro and historically black N.C. A&T State University, as well as a predominantly black neighborhood.
Mecklenburg’s elections board consists of Republicans Mary Potter Summa (chairwoman) and Elizabeth McDowell. Carol Williams is the lone Democrat.
"While it’s discouraging to see these local attacks on voting rights, these are fights we can and must win,” said Evan Degnan,
digital director at Progress NC Action, a progressive activism nonprofit.
Comments
| I emailed the President of the NAACP when all of this started. "Since you cannot go to the social security office without a picture I.D. would you not think it is important for all residents of North Carolina to have a picture I.D. I will help you transport those people to get their I.D." He never asked for my help. |
| Posted on August 14, 2016 |
| I have never understood how having a photo ID in order to vote has any racial discrimination overtones? Blacks have to have ID to work, drive, fly, get passports, food stamps(?), and many other actions, same as whites, Latinos, and other races. If it is a difficult situation for elderly, or handicapped, etc., then I understand and that is ALL races. So again, why does this always become about blacks. If blacks spent as much energy getting a photo id as they do complaining about being black constantly, it would be a breeze. Now, the way the districts are drawn are racially motivated and should be re-drawn! Also, why change the out-of-precinct voting? That is simple. You move, you change your address with the County Voting Board by mail, and then go to the correct precinct which is normally the precinct closest to where one lives. Or can blacks either not remember to change their precinct because they are black or because they move so often? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. White, Black, or Green, you will get a ticket for running a stop sign; one cannot say they didn't know to stop, so keep up, and register for the correct precinct. Easier than voting, and Blacks can sure get that done. And before you think this is being down on blacks; it is NOT. Just a perplexing reason for not doing things properly because of someone's skin color? Go to another country or quite the bitching about being black. Get a job and a life. |
| Posted on August 14, 2016 |
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