The N.C. General Assembly is rushing to approve massive, complex legislation that would change voting access and election administration, making it harder for many North Carolinians to cast ballots and have a say in our elected government.
The original House legislation, contained in a single bill, was bad enough. The state Senate recently split the measure into one palatable bill (H834) and one egregiously bad bill, H958, Election Law Changes.
These two bills are speeding to the full N.C. House for approval of the Senate's changes. Tell your state representative TODAY to vote NO on concurrence for House Bill 958!
The legislation would complicate voting for many of the same North Carolina communities that are already bearing the brunt of environmental threats from tainted water, industrial pollution and more. Proposed changes include:
- Shortening the early voting period for primary elections from 17 to 10 days,
- Revising and prolonging the process for unhappy candidates to challenge election results,
- Requiring the state Department of Motor Vehicles to provide registration data to the state Board of Elections that includes full Social Security numbers – not just the last four digits – and doing it monthly, meaning many more opportunities for your sensitive personal information to be leaked or hacked, and
- Many more complicated, time-consuming, expensive procedural changes to our state's electoral system that could bog down voting results and allow for politically motivated interference.
A healthy environment depends on a healthy democracy. Politically motivated roadblocks are an attack on our right to choose our own leaders, and to have a say in the policies that protect the air, land and water where we and our families live.
The House could vote as soon as the week of Aug. 3 on whether to concur with the Senate's changes. There's no time to lose!
Speak up NOW: Tell your state House member to VOTE NO on concurrence with House Bill 958!
