From now through July 14, the North Carolina State Board of Elections is accepting public comment on a series of potential voting rule changes they seek to enact this year. The changes include three proposals that pro-democracy groups are calling harmful to voters.
The three proposals, which were approved along party lines by the Republican-controlled State Board in April, make it harder to vote by absentee mail, limit constitutionally protected gatherings at polling sites, and open the door for county boards to reject certain ballots along party lines.
“The changes are unnecessary, reckless, and burdensome to voters and election administrators, without improving our election system in any way,” said Sailor Jones of Common Cause North Carolina. “And in some cases, the rules invite partisan pressure to take priority over fair process. Partisanship has no business in the counting of eligible voters’ ballots.”
There is a fourth proposed change, to recount rules, that was approved unanimously across party lines by the Board.
By law, the State Board must consider public comments before enacting any rule changes. Common Cause is encouraging the public to submit comments for each of the three contested proposals, both to show disagreement with the anti-voter rules and to provide alternatives that could actually serve all voters.
“Instead of trying to make voting more difficult, the State Board of Elections should listen to the public, work in a bipartisan way to build upon the proven success of our election system, and ensure every voter’s freedom to cast a ballot is protected,” Jones said.
For sample comments and a link to the comment portal for each rule change, visit Common Cause’s website.
