The Independent View: Another Voter Suppression Bill in NC

The North Carolina Senate is introducing a bill that would squelch civil rights and could set the state voting system back decades.

Senate Bill 666 was authored by Senate Republicans Ronald J. Rabin and co-authored by Bill Cook, Norman w. Sanderson, Shirley B. Eandleman, and Dan Soucek.

The bill would:

1. PROHIBIT DEPENDENCY DEDUCTIONS FOR QUALIFYING CHILDREN WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE AT A DIFFERENT ADDRESS

2. CLARIFY RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES THAT MAY BE USED FOR VOTING

3. PROHIBIT VOTER REGISTRATIONS THAT LACK REQUIRED INFORMATION

4. CLARIFY THE RIGHTS OF ELECTION OBSERVERS

5. REPEAL SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION

6. LIMIT EARLY VOTING TO TEN DAYS

7. ELIMINATE SATELLITE EARLY VOTING SITES

The bill's history:

04/02/2013 Senate Filed bill
04/03/2013 Senate Passed 1st Reading
04/03/2013 Senate Referred To Committee On Rules and Operations of the Senate

The bill is an attempt to keep college students from voting in North Carolina by eliminating the $2,500 dependent child tax deduction for parents if their child votes in the town or city where the child attends college. It would also cut a week off of the Early Voting period and forbid counties from having more than one location for Early Voting, no matter how large the county. Repealing Same Day Registration (SDR) is another voter suppression effort as new reports show an increase in voter registration in state with this option. States that allow SDR consistently lead the nation in voter participation. Four of the top five states for voter turnout in the 2012 presidential election all offered SDR. Average voter turnout was over 10% points higher in SDR states than in other states.

This is another attempt to shut down all student voting drives and make it harder for young adults to become participating members of our democracy.

Courts have ruled repeatedly that students have a right to vote in the community where they spend most of their time, but that did not stop these Republicans from attempting to take away this right.

There is no justification whatsoever for these provisions except to stop people from voting.

Progress NC, whose mission statement is: to promotes public policies which make North Carolina a fairer, healthier, more equitable state by advocating solutions to critical community problems, said:

"Enough if enough! If you persist in moving Senate Bill 666 forward, we will make it our mission to expose your actions to every person we know. We will go out of our way to make sure that every college student in your district knows you tried to strip them of the right to vote. We will make sure that every parent in your district knows you tried to take away a lawful tax deduction you have no right legislating. Young adults should be encouraged, not blocked from voting, and you will be held accountable for your actions."

I signed their petition. If you agree this bill needs to be defeated:

CLICK HERE to sign their petition.