Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 18, 2016, edition 1 / Page 5
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With no straight-ticket voting, activists preaching absentee ballots for Nov. 8 BY CASH MICHAELS FOR THE CHRONIC! fF. One of the major con cerns about the 2013 Voter suppression law was that the requirement for voters ta brandish their govern ment-issued photo identifi cation would ultimately cause long lines at the polls during the early voting period and on Nov. 8 Election Day. So when the July 29th federal appellate decision doing away with voter ID was handed down, many cheered, until they realized there was still one key part of the voter sup pression law still intact: the part that did away with straight-ticket balloting. In North Carolina, Michigan and other states without straisht-ticket vot Sutton ing, Republicans say forc ing voters to choose candi dates race-by-race allows them to do their research on who has the best posi tions. But critics say given the partisan atmosphere, voters pretty much know what parties they support, so not being able to mark one party of candidates only creates longer lines and greater confusion. According to the U.S. Fourth Circuit ruling, one of the reasons why early voting was targeted by Republican lawmakers was because it was so popular with African-American voters. Thus, virtually all of the voter suppression requirements were applied accordingly. But not so with mail-in absentee balloting, a voting feature dominated by Republicans who, for whatever reason, aren't able to cast an in-person ballot on any of the early voting days or on Election Day. Maps from page AI tutionally for the 2018 elections. Black Democrats across the state, and here in Winston-Salem, still reel ing from the U.S. Fourth Circuit's earlier finding that the 2013 voter sup pression laws deliberately targeted African Americans, are outraged. "This Republican legis lature has broken a record enacting the highest num ber of unconstitutional laws ever, and all of them are raced-based," Eric Ellison, chairman of the Forsyth County Democratic Party said in blunt terms. "They're a bunch of racists, and our courts agree with us. These guys are underhanded, they don't believe in the Constitution, they don't believe in fairness, they don't believe in democra cy. They're a bunch of crooks, and it's time to get them out of office, and get new leadership in there, and the time to do it is now!" Thirty-one North Carolina voters sued the N.C. legislature in May 2015 in federal court, claiming that the 2011 dis trict maps unnecessarily increased the number of black voters in 28 districts under the guise of comply ing with the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Blacks and whites were already in coalition electing black candidates of their choice in those districts. State Sen. Floyd McKissick Jr. was one of those black lawmakers li 1 Unlike in-person vot ing, absentee balloting has virtually few restrictions. According to the Forsyth County Board of Elections, "Any registered ^W>AIGN North Carolina voter can request a mail-in absentee ballot. This type of absen tee voting allows a voter or a near relative or legal guardian to request that an absentee ballot be sent to the voter by mail. The voter may vote the ballot and return it to the county board of elections by the ballot return deadline." Eric Ellison, chairman of the Forsyth County Democratic Party, believes working with those in the community who need the added time at home to study the candidates and the issues more thoroughly on the general ballot will bare fruit in the end because they won't be rushed to make snap judg ments on Election Day. Not just the presidential and gubernatorial races will be listed, but the legislative, county city and judicial Ellison races will also be listed, among others. "They've overloaded it, so every single race that could be on this ballot, will be on this ballot," Ellison told The Chronicle. Fortunately, the Forsyth Democratic Party has been distributing a thorough vot ing card since June with names, pictures and web sites of Democratic candi dates for voters to become familiar with. Linda Sutton, interim secretary for the Forsyth who previously enjoyed strong support from a racial coalition of support which included 42 percent of black voters from Durham and Granville counties. But his district lines were suddenly changed in 2011 to where he had over 50 percent black voters in his district. Indeed, prior to 2011, not one state Senate district represented by an African American had a majority of black voters, because it wasn't necessary. The 2015 federal lawsuit charged that the 2011 Republican redisricting was just a ruse to feign compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Acts in order to gain political advantage. "They were just pack ing African-Americans into those districts, and making it more likely that Republicans would win the other ones," McKissick said. When state lawmakers return in January, their fust order of business will be to redraw the 28 legislative districts so that they are in constitutional compliance. "My Democratic col leagues and I concur that the citizens of North Carolina should not endure another cycle of unconsti tutional elections," Lowe said. "We must work together, along with the majority party on redis tricting efforts that every one can appreciate. Although we will not see that come to fruition in November, I stand with my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus to call for the establishment of an independent redisricting commission in 2017." t County NAACP, says they are working with churches to help prospective voters deal with what everyone expects will be an extra long local ballot for the general election. Generally Sutton believes if churches can help people understand their absentee ballots, and assist them with properly returning them to the elec tions board by mail, that will ultimately help make for a smoother election. "We're doing our faith ful voter pledge cards where we're going to be sending people their sam ple ballot, and also sending them their early voting times. So we're doing what we can to get the word out to as many people as we ?? can. Sutton also said that a "Black Votes Matter" cam paign is also needed to impress upon the commu nity the importance of every vote, especially in the aftermath of the two recent U.S. Fourth Circuit rulings striking down the voter suppression law and the 2011 N.C. legislative redistricting map. They are "trying to do something to raise the awareness of these two rul ings," Sutton said. Meanwhile published reports quote Gov. Pat McCrory as saying that his attorneys are asking U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to stay the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals' July 29 ruling overturning the voter ID laws before the Nov. 8 general elections. W^nupuzsEviwF Hauling Services Junk Hauling 336-987-2099 www.triple7ha11ling.com ? Residential and ? Evictions; Foreclosure Commercial ? Free removal of old ? Year-round Bulky item appliances pickup ? Move jobs ? Single item pick up; ? Labor for hire Truck load pick up ? Load/unload; ? 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