NC lawmakers return with open agenda – WRAL

RALEIGH, N.C. — State lawmakers will return to Raleigh Nov. 27 for a lame-duck session expected to deal with voter ID and Hurricane Florence relief. Democrats are concerned about what other proposals could emerge in the waning days of the Republicans’ veto-proof majority.

Republican leaders have said they intend to pass legislation enacting the photo identification requirement to cast a ballot that voters approved last week as a constitutional amendment. They’ll have to decide which forms of ID will be accepted, from driver’s licenses to student, military or tribal IDs, and whether the law will allow for exceptions for voters who can’t obtain an accepted form of identification.

They’re also expected to consider additional legislation dealing with Hurricane Florence recovery. Although they voted in October to approve nearly $800 million over a period of years, much of that money still has to be specifically appropriated for needs identified by state and local agencies. Lawmakers will hear reports this week on the latest damage estimates. (Read more)

Former Gov. Pat McCrory falsely says many college students are committing voter fraud – News & Observer

The Gate Keeper’s response: Funny how Pat said in his particular election that Voter ID was a problem but then when he was found to be lying he changed his tune. When one wants to make such a claim one ought to get their facts straight about the law. Hell he should have talked to the board of elections and asked how the students could vote. If Pat had won re-election it would not have been an issue. Another myth to justify the need for Voter ID.

RALEIGH

While recounts were happening in Florida for the governor’s office and a seat in the U.S. Senate, a former North Carolina governor who lost his own seat in a recount offered some advice to Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott.

Former N.C. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory said Scott should watch the vote tallies coming in from areas with large college student populations.

“In my particular election we had a lot of college students, who were out-of-state college students, vote,” McCrory said. “And they could do it because there was no voter ID which would’ve showed New Jersey license plates, Pennsylvania license plates, you name it. …. And I couldn’t do a thing about it.”

McCrory later continued: “The question is where do they actually live? … If they voted in North Carolina and yet their car is registered elsewhere, they have a driver’s license from elsewhere, they’re breaking the law. And there is no way we can prove it.” (Read more)

NC Republicans reveal their voter ID proposal – News & Observer

RALEIGH

Boards of elections would provide registration cards with photos, and students at North Carolina’s public universities would be able to use their school IDs to vote under a draft voter ID bill that Republican legislators released Tuesday.

Voters decided this month to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution. The legislature is returning next week to pass a law to implement the constitutional change.

The draft bill includes other photo IDs, such as driver’s licenses, tribal IDs, military and veteran ID cards, and state ID cards the state DMV provides to non-drivers.

An elections oversight committee is meeting Monday to discuss the proposal. An email from a spokesman for Senate leader Phil Berger described the proposal by Rep. David Lewis of Harnett County and Sen. Ralph Hise of Mitchell County as a “starting point,” and said changes are likely. (Read more)

Butterfield Statement on SCOTUS Voter ID Decision

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For Immediate Release Date:  May 15, 2017

Contact: Meaghan Lynch Office:    (202) 225.3101

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Butterfield Statement on SCOTUS Voter ID Decision

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous finding that the North Carolina General Assembly acted with discriminatory purpose in enactment of a 2013 Voter ID law:

“Today’s announcement is a victory against those who try to implement discriminatory voter ID laws written to suppress the vote of certain North Carolinians.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the case left in place the Fourth Circuit’s well-reasoned finding that the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting its 2013 voter ID law that also included other discriminatory voting changes like limitations on early voting predominately used by African Americans.

“Today, the Supreme Court rightly refused to hear the appeal of a law that I have long said discriminates against African American voters.  I hope this is finally the end to one of the most undemocratic and disgraceful voter ID laws in the country.” 

http://butterfield.house.gov

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Appeals court rejects NC’s request to postpone voter ID decision

RALEIGH, N.C.

An appeals court has quickly decided it won’t delay enforcement of its ruling striking down North Carolina’s photo identification requirement and other election restrictions, including reducing early in-person voting by seven days.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the stay Thursday, one day after state leaders’ attorneys requested that last week’s ruling be set aside as they prepare to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. (News & Observer)

Butterfield Applauds Unanimous Fourth Circuit Decision on Discriminatory Voter ID Law

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For Release:  Immediate     Date:  July 29, 2016

Contact: Meaghan Lynch Office:    (202) 225.3101

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Butterfield Applauds Unanimous Fourth Circuit Decision on Discriminatory Voter ID Law

 

Washington, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously determined the NC General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enactment of Voter ID law:

 

“I applaud the UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT on its unanimous and well-reasoned opinion that determined the North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting a voter ID law and other discriminatory voting procedures including a limitation on early voting. 

 

“The law addressed by the Court today was passed by the General Assembly one month following the suspension of a portion of the Voting Rights Act that required federal preclearance of voting changes.  The legislature’s intent in enacting this law has now been found unconstitutional and unenforceable.  The appellate court found that the trial court “ignored the inextricable link between race and politics in North Carolina.”  The court went on to say that the election law changes have had a disproportionate impact on African American voters and no basis ever existed to support the law’s passage and enactment.  The appellate court is requiring the state to completely cure this unconstitutional voting law.

 

“Today, the federal court has validated my long held view that this law discriminates against African American voters because of their race.  It is my hope that the State of North Carolina will embrace this decision instead of pursuing costly appeals.  North Carolina’s image has been tarnished by this and other discriminatory legislative enactments.  By embracing this decision, the State of North Carolina will begin the process of restoring the state’s reputation for protecting the right to vote.”

 

http://butterfield.house.gov

 

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Voter ID trial ends; decision is now up to federal judge – Winston-Salem Journal

The Watch Dog response: This is why I am a Life Fully Paid Member of the NAACP.

In closing arguments Monday, North Carolina’s photo ID requirement was described by attorneys for the North Carolina NAACP as a racially discriminatory law that places unconstitutional burdens on blacks and Hispanics.

Attorneys representing Gov. Pat McCrory and state elections officials called the change in the law a mere inconvenience, saying it would affect a small group of people.

Penda Hair, an attorney for the N.C. NAACP, said evidence presented during the trial clearly shows that the photo ID requirement would make it harder for blacks and Hispanics to cast ballots in this year’s election. It’s undisputed, she said, that blacks disproportionately lack the kinds of photo IDs that they would need to show when they come to the polls. (Source: Read more)

Voter ID trial ends; decision is now up to federal judge – Winston-Salem Journal

The Watch Dog response: This is why I am a Life Fully Paid Member of the NAACP.

In closing arguments Monday, North Carolina’s photo ID requirement was described by attorneys for the North Carolina NAACP as a racially discriminatory law that places unconstitutional burdens on blacks and Hispanics.

Attorneys representing Gov. Pat McCrory and state elections officials called the change in the law a mere inconvenience, saying it would affect a small group of people.

Penda Hair, an attorney for the N.C. NAACP, said evidence presented during the trial clearly shows that the photo ID requirement would make it harder for blacks and Hispanics to cast ballots in this year’s election. It’s undisputed, she said, that blacks disproportionately lack the kinds of photo IDs that they would need to show when they come to the polls. (Source: Read more)

Ned Barnett: State’s new Voter ID rule narrows the right to vote – Winston Salem Journal

The most confounding and misleading part of the new voter ID requirement is the “common sense” defense.

Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger said in a TV ad that requiring a photo ID to vote “prevents fraud and protects the integrity of our elections — it’s common sense.” Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed the requirement into law saying it was part of “common sense reforms.” At a federal trial in Winston-Salem where the requirement is being challenged, it’s being defended as a commonly used and sensible protection.

Proponents of the requirement, which takes effect with the March 15 primary, say a photo ID is needed to cash a check, board an airplane or even to purchase some cold medications, so certainly it should be required for something as important as voting. (Source: Read more)

Post-Trial Statements | North Carolina Voter Suppression Trial

The Watch Dog response: This is why I am a Life Fully Paid Member of the NAACP. Don’t tell me you are about what is good for black folk and all folk if you ain’t a part of the solution. You see some of you just celebrated Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Holiday and now beginning today you are going to celebrate Black History Month. The fight goes beyond January and February. So when you say I am acting like I am ignant, well I am because I get ignant around folk who are not about what is good and just for all people. Trust me I know who you are.

***NEW VIDEO: Post-Trial Statements | North Carolina Voter Suppression Trial

February 1st, 2016 – Joined by Plaintiffs, Attorneys and members of the Forward …Together Moral Movement, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II makes a statement following the close of arguments for the Voter ID portion of the North Carolina Voting Rights Trial.
Click On Photo To Watch Video

Trial to start over North Carolina’s voter ID law – The Washington Post

The Political Agitator’s response: Anyone black, brown, white and other that believe in doing what is right and fair know that the Voter ID Law is far from either. The issue is some ignant racist white folk just happen to have the power, they used their white privilege to attempt to afford even good white folk who know it ain’t right to be able to benefit from such. Hell no all white folk don’t like it! But one thing about it, as Rev. William Keys preached today, I Believe God! I believe one one day the Voter ID will be made right and fair.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Rosanell Eaton still remembers the day 70 years ago when she traveled two hours with her mother in a mule-drawn wagon to register to vote at the county courthouse. Before she could, she was forced to take a literacy test.

“What are you here for, little lady?” Eaton recalls a man at the courthouse asked her. When she told him, he instructed her, “don’t miss a word and speak the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America.”

“Without missing a word, I did it,” she said. (Source: Read more)

President Talking About Background Checks & ID To Own Guns At All Levels But They Don’t Want That Though!

President on background checks and ID to purchase guns at all levels.

But they don’t want to talk about that, they want to make sure black folk get an ID to vote though!

As I have always said let’s talk about it all!

Judge refuses to dismiss NC voter ID challenge – The News & Observer

A federal judge on Friday refused a request from state lawmakers to dismiss a challenge to the North Carolina voter ID law.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder set the issue for a trial, tentatively in January.

Attorneys for state lawmakers argued that a change made this year to the ID provision of election law made the 2013 legal challenge moot. Though the law initially restricted voting to people who had one of six specified photo identification cards, the General Assembly added a provision on the eve of the federal trial this summer that made it possible to cast a provisional ballot without an ID.

The law is set to go into effect next year. (Source: Read more)

U.S. Federal Court Says Texas Voter ID Violates Voting Rights Act – ABC News

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that Texas‘ voter ID law has a “discriminatory” effect on minorities in a victory for President Barack Obama, whose administration took the unusual step of bringing the weight of the U.S. Justice Department to fight a wave of new ballot-box restrictions passed in conservative statehouses.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 2011 Texas law runs afoul of parts of the federal Voting Rights Act — handing down the decision on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the landmark civil rights law.

Texas was allowed to use the voter ID law during the 2014 elections, thereby requiring an estimated 13.6 million registered Texas voters to have a photo ID to cast a ballot. (Source: Read more)

9 HBCU Students Just Made the Voter-ID War Hot Again – The Root

The voter-ID war just opened up a huge new front. This time in Tennessee. A group of nine students from HBCUs Fisk and Tennessee State have filed a federal lawsuit against the Volunteer State’s heavily contested and controversial voter-ID law.

The suit was filed by the Nashville Student Organizing Committee, a coalition of student activists established in February 2014. The plaintiffs were all disallowed from voting in 2014 because they carried student IDs as identification. NSOC retained the Washington, D.C.-based Fair Elections Legal Network, which then partnered with the local Nashville-based firm Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison as part of a legal project to restore student voting rights in the state. (Source: Read more)