As someone who has used an absentee ballot for voting in the last two elections, I was heartened to see that the State Board of Elections is considering requiring prepaid envelopes for absentee ballots. The ballot and the envelope are large – the ballot was 17 inches long last year – and the envelope says a voter has to use two stamps to return the ballot. That puts a price on voting, $1.10.
Not a large sum for some, but it could mean a disabled voter, pinching pennies, could not spare that amount. A vote lost; A right denied.
The state board is also, it seems, considering whether to make it a crime to copy ballots. Why would someone copy a lot of ballots if not to use them in some unlawful way? It appears we may learn the answer as the criminal charges arising from the ballot-harvesting scandal in Bladen County are heard in court.
The third encouraging news about voting comes from Wake County, which chose paper ballots with reader machines 13 years ago over electronic ballots without a paper trail. Those machines have served well, and the county will replace them with new, similar machines for the 2019 elections.
Unfortunately, we have the Republican majority in the General Assembly which has chosen to insist on voter ID. It has written a law implementing the new addition to the state constitution with very strict conditions for student IDs that means most UNC system students cannot vote in upcoming elections.
The law says student IDs must have photos taken by the school or a contractor; have been issued after students’ Social Security numbers, citizenship status, birth dates and other information has been confirmed, have expiration date and meet other requirements.
I understand I can use my state-issued driver’s license as identification when I go to vote in person. I’ve had a driver’s license since I was 14 and in New York State, before I even had a Social Security number because I didn’t have a job at that age. (Children born today get a Social Security number before they leave the hospital, I think.)
Because I had a license in New York, I could get a license in Arkansas when we were there for two years, and similarly could get a license in North Carolina in 1970. To my knowledge, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has never inquired about my Social Security number or citizenship status.
Why, then, did the writers of the enabling law set out such a restrictive standard for college student IDs?
There were some state-supported schools which did have student IDs which met the law: NC State University, NC Central University, Elizabeth City State University, Appalachian State University and UNC Asheville. Also, some private schools and community colleges were approved: Duke University, Meredith College, Shaw University and St. Augustine University have acceptable IDs.
Why was there not a provision that existing student IDs could be used in 2019 and 2020 while the state’s college and universities had time to change their IDs?
7 Responses
“Unfortunately, we have the Republican majority in the General Assembly which has chosen to insist on voter ID. ”
The voters in NC chose to require voter, not the GA. Unfortunately, we have a Democrat governor who is doing everything he can to usurp his constituents.
I enjoy your news, but please stick to news and leave opinion out of news articles. For example, you wrote, “Unfortunately, we have the Republican majority in the General Assembly which has chosen to insist on voter ID.” You should not get political and call out a party in a news article. Second, remember that the voters of NC approved the constitutional amendment on voter ID. The General Assembly is required to implement the voter’s wishes with appropriate laws in support of the amendment. Once again, please keep your political views out of your news articles. Please do not sink to the low level of journalism currently practiced by the national media. You are better than that. If you wish to publish a weekly editorial, that is fine. Just label it as an editorial or opinion piece.
John, Please go back and read the Gazette. You will see that the article in question was clearly labeled as opinion. As an editor, I can express my opinions in an opinion or editorial, but I always clearly show that they are opinions. If you disagree with my point of view, I encourage you to send me an email with your opinion and I will publish it labeled as opinion.
Carol
Yes…I missed the opinion label in the title of the article. I apologize for mis-identifying this. I need to read more carefully in the future.
However, your opinion on the General Assembly taking up voter ID is flat out wrong. The citizens of NC voted in favor of a Constitutional amendment that required voter ID. At that point, the General assembly had an obligation to enact a voter ID law that can govern how the amendment will be implemented and executed. The General Assembly just fulfilled their obligation. Your argument is with the voters of NC, not the General Assembly.
I guess you have the right to be wrong, and this time, you exercised that right to the fullest. After saying all of that, I still enjoy your publication. I look forward to it every week.
I have to show ID every time I go to a new doctor.
I have to show ID when visiting a new doctor every time.
Seriously? $1.10…
There are many free services that will drive you to your voting place and you don’t even need to get out of the vehicle with “Curbside Voting!”
Just presenting another option…