The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 18, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

The North Carolina legislature approved a so-called “election integrity” bill late Wednesday, making it harder to vote by mail, employing provisional ballots for election day registrants, implementing new polling place observer rules, and allowing voters to challenge the mail ballots of other voters.   

SB 747 now heads to Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who will likely veto the bill, then have his veto overridden by the Republican supermajority enabled by gerrymandered voting districts.   

WRAL reports that the bill doubled in size in the House, despite an outcry over additional barriers to voting, including mandating signature verification and TWO witnesses on mail ballots, requiring provisional ballots for election-day registrants, and the ability for an ordinary voter to challenge a mail ballot from another voter.   

A bipartisan group of county election officials also complained that the expansion of the number of poll observers allowed would be a distraction from administering the election and hurt, not help, election integrity.  Some amendments were made. They also voiced concern about the time added for requiring signature verification of mail ballots.

The bill has roots with Cleta Mitchell, a former Trump election lawyer who now works with the Election Integrity Network, a conservative advocacy group.  SB 749, which overhauls the balance of county elections boards, is expected to get its final votes shortly.      

We have a link to the final version of SB 747 at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket – North Carolina Republicans Introduce Election Bill Influenced by GOP Operatives
WRAL – Sweeping election law changes moving forward again in NC legislature, ahead of 2024 elections
WRAL – Local election officials say proposed NC election changes would be ‘disruptive’
North Carolina Legislature – Final version of SB 747
WGHP – Few amendments, many questions: North Carolina’s expanded voting law headed for Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk

Groups Taking Action:
North Carolina Black Alliance, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Voter, ACLU North Carolina

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE! 
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!
#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NCPolitics #VoterSuppression #FreedomtoVote

See our earlier report:

The post Under the Cloak of “Election Integrity,” North Carolina Legislature Overhauls Election System; Governor’s Expected Veto Likely to be Overridden appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 5, 2023

Today’s Script: 
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

We’re in North Carolina today awaiting action by the U.S. Supreme Court on Moore vs. Harper, the Independent State Legislature theory test case, and we just learned about a new bill shortening mail-in ballot deadlines and implementing provisional ballots for election-day registrants.

A ruling from the high court is expected this week or next on Moore v. Harper, the fringe constitutional theory that state legislatures have ultimate power over election law, even over gubernatorial vetoes and court decisions.  

New anti-democracy legislation has also been filed in North Carolina, using boilerplate bills drafted by a group that Raleigh’s WRAL reports is run by Cleta Mitchell, head of former President Trump’s legal team attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.   

The proposed legislation requires receipt of mail-in ballots by 7:30 pm election day, rather than the third day after, and implements two-factor identification for mail ballots.   It would allow “challenges” to voter eligibility by other precinct voters, a voter suppression tactic and a burden for election workers.   The bill also requires voters registering on election day to use a provisional ballot, and not count it until the voter’s address is verified by mail or additional documents are provided.

Despite little or no evidence of fraud, politicians backing such voter suppression legislation claim it allays public doubt about elections – doubt of their own making.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The Guardian – US supreme court end-of-term decisions could transform key areas of public life
The Brennan Center for Justice – Moore v. Harper, Explained
Democracy Docket – North Carolina Republicans Introduce Election Bill Influenced by GOP Operatives
WRAL – NC lawmakers expected to roll out major election law changes, with input from former Trump lawyer
North Carolina Legislature – SB 747 as Introduced

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause NC, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Black Alliance, Action NC, League of Women Voters NC 

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Get ADM Radio Report email!  Sign up here!

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotingRights

The post North Carolina Legislators Propose Boilerplate Bills Suppressing Mail-in and Election Day Registration Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.