Court Strikes Down GOP-Backed Voting Restrictions In North Carolina

[mikesimon]

WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered a lower court to block two new voting restrictions in North Carolina, saying there was "no doubt" the measures would disenfranchise minorities.

North Carolina will now be required to reinstate same-day voter registration, as well as allow voters to cast ballots even if they show up to vote in the wrong precinct.

In a two-to-one ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that "whether the number is thirty or thirty-thousand, surely some North Carolina minority voters will be disproportionately adversely affected in the upcoming election" and that it was important to act now, since "there could be no do-over and no redress" once the election was over.

The appeals court ruled that the lower court "failed to adequately consider North Carolina’s history of voting discrimination" and said the new law eliminated "voting mechanisms successful in fostering minority participation."

"The injury to these voters is real and completely irreparable if nothing is done to enjoin this law," the ruling said.

North Carolina began considering new voting restrictions last June, the day after the Supreme Court gutted a provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that protected minority voters in certain states with a history of discrimination. Gov. Pat McCrory (R) ultimately signed House Bill 589 into law in August 2013. The law eliminated a number of measures intended to protect would-be voters from being disenfranchised and required them to show photo identification at the polls.

The Justice Department joined civil rights groups in suing over the law a month later.

"The election laws in North Carolina prior to House Bill 589’s enactment encouraged participation by qualified voters," the appeals court ruled Wednesday. "But the challenged House Bill 589 provisions stripped them away. The public interest thus weighs heavily in Plaintiffs’ favor."

The court did, however, affirm the lower court's decision to allow North Carolina to reduce the number of early-voting days, expand the basis for voter challenges and enact several other new restrictions.

"With respect to these provisions, we conclude that, although Plaintiffs may ultimately succeed at trial, they have not met their burden of satisfying all elements necessary for a preliminary injunction," the court ruled.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/north-carolina-voting-restrictions_n_5914634.html

[brice1967]

And proving that this is all so insignificant, a lot of traditionally republican states bowed down to Obama and cast ballots his way.

[brice1967]

But... you've said there is no voter fraud and quite frankly, I see what you are talking about as "voter fraud".  I've heard it said that "voter fraud" and the affects of such is so insignificant, I am trying to figure out what the big deal is.  

[teko]

My point in responding above, was to the fact that you have these voter id laws taking place on the eve, and some after people are voting. Now if you want to change these laws, altho I got a beef with those laws, why so close to the voting period starting, and disenfranchising the people who have already voted. It begs the question as to why> Ohio did away with a week of early voting literally the day before it was scheduled to begin. (just one example).

Then somehow the whole conversation went to what I had said in the past.

And the fact of the matter is: It IS all in republican led states.

[brice1967]

What is the matter with you?  If you know what you said, there is no beef.  You wanted facts, I gave them and you admitted to it.... What is the matter?

[teko]

I know what I said, now is your chance to prove me wrong brice. You got your boxing gloves on so its a good time to sock it to me!.

[brice1967]

There is no voter fraud.  You and a couple others have said that numerous times.  You've also eluded to the fact that poor people cannot afford ID and that it is "too difficult" for poor people to vote.

Your wait is over.

[teko]

Now is your opportunity to prove that any of those things is false. It obviously is something you totally disagree with, so instead of putting me down as a person, bring it with facts> Im waiting.

[brice1967]

Uhm, no I didn't.  Everything I mentioned is something you eluded too, if not now, certainly in the past.

[teko]

You missed the whole damn point......I give up.

[brice1967]

There is NO VOTER FRAUD of any sorts.  We've heard it here time and time again... unless of course republicans are trying to stifle the minority vote.  Then of course, its rampant.  

Everyone knows poor folk can't afford an I.D.  Everyone knows poor folk can't make it to the polls.  Everyone knows that poor folk are highly educated and motivated voters.... they just don't make it to the polls.  Oh, and that is the fault of the republicans.

[mikesimon]

No wonder you covet like you do.

[Vance2335]

Probably because that is the only way the Dems will keep control of the Senate and then the White House.

[el_em_en_oh]

This is all in an effort to give illegal Mexicans the ability to vote?

[R Glass]

“as well as allow voters to cast ballots even if they show up to vote in the wrong precinct.”

I’m all for doing what we can to assure everyone gets an opportunity to vote but the line has to be drawn somewhere.

[Vance2335]

Could not read the article because the title when I got to the link was an instant turn off Republican hit piece filled with lies.

[teko]

I heard it on cnn, but it was either Miss or Minn or Wisconsin. Cannot remember which.

I also found this very enlightening.

http://prospect.org/article/22-states-wave-new-voting-restrictions-threatens-shift-outcomes-tight-races

[Vance2335]

What state is this in?

[teko]

Okay, so you voted absentee? As such, and you got word tomorrow that altho you already cast your vote, now the regulations have changed and in order for your vote to count, you must now come in person and show various forms of id, some of which you may or may not have, after the fact of already voting.

This is one of the things actually happenning in one of the states. I dunno about you, but that would irritate me big time....And then, what if you didnt have one of the forms or documents requested and now had to go hunt it down? And if you didnt? your vote is thrown in the trash....

You would think, they would have the laws in place before people started casting their votes imo...

[Proactive]

I as well am self employed. But more to the point, I have already voted via an absentee ballot. The reason I chose to use the absentee ballot is for research reasons. I don't vote party line, so it takes some time to check out candidates and do my research. I actually voted, democrat,republican and for a libertarian! (ha).
Lots of parties here in VT, democrat,republican,libertarian,liberty union, progressive,independent ......but I don't much care about party politics, I care about the individual views/positions of each candidate I vote for.

[Vance2335]

No one is restricting them, ELECTION DAY has been in November since 1845, this is not new to people. I am not so much talking about fraud but since it is part of elections why is it so hard to prove who you are??

You do get all day to vote, polls open at 8am and stay open until at least 7pm. If you can not find 15 mins to vote then cry me a river. You don't need a full day, you need 15 mins. The excuses you gave are just that excuses.

Last 2 Presidential elections had unusual turn out due to black people voting based on skin color. Simple as that.

Yes always blame republicans right? This country is in a F'N mess because of Obama and the democrats. Try just try seeing the truth and admitting to this for once, be honest with yourself and us. Republicans did not create this mess we are in. Obama has Congress for 2 years and things are worse now then they were back then.  And don;t point to Bush because if you want to give Obama credit for fake employment numbers then give him the blame for the labor participation rate at record lows.

[teko]

First of all, in order to sell me on voter fraud you are going to have to show me some stats that support that theory and to date? There are none! Secondly, there is only about 40% of our population that turn out the vote to begin with, so why would you not want to do more to get people out than trying to restrict them?

Do you have a clue as to why early voting came about to begin with? If you are a ceo or lucky enuff to have a job or lifestyle that you can take that one day and go vote without losing a days pay or adding a day that gets you closer to being fired for being absent from work, then its no problem!

If you work a third shift job, or in a position of having to have childcare, and too many other situations too numerous to mention, its not so easy, hence! Early voting to allow those of all situations to vote!

Now? They want to take all that away? And you think that fair? And just coincidentally, it is a republican campaign to do this....

I am self employed. I have committments every single day of the week and if I cancel an appointment on that day to go vote, I  lose money and really inconvenience a client that I cannot make up time to until the next scheduled date for her....And just think about all those long lines that the voting booths cannot handle. Hell in the last election alone a elderly woman stood in line for 8 hours just to vote....So tell me how much sense all this makes?

[Vance2335]

Well with our lax boarders, since you can come into the country illegally might as well vote illegally also.

Voting is a privlidge of American citizens that can be taken away due to something they do. But everyone who can vote should vote.

I really don't care if early voting helped republicans, if you are going to vote early and instead of voting on October 8th you have to wait until Oct 22 then so be it. If it effects you that much then maybe you should not be voting at all. I have always and will always be voting on Nov 4th. It's not that hard.

[teko]

Let me ask YOU a question.....Since when, in this country do we not want people to vote? Why try to restrict the very schedules that the states have always adhered to? Why cut it back? What is the purpose to trying to keep people from voting? You would think all would want as many people to vote as possible, so why not?  And its okay to cut a weeks worth of early voting, the very day before it was to begin? Whats up with that?

Like I said, it appears it is now okay to buy the vote, but not stand in line to cast it?  And it just so happens that this particular week that was cut, was known to attract about half the african american population? Coincidence is it?

And I dont remember which state it was, but they changed the voting laws, after quite a few absent ballets had already been turned in, making those votes null and void unless all those people come after the fact and provide papers that I might add is more than you would need to legally travel to another country. Now you tell me why?

[Vance2335]

Good, why do you need early voting? Why not just vote every single day of the year? Election day is in November. If you can't get to the polls then you have an absentee ballot that can be submitted. But in some states we just had primaries and don't even know anything about the candidates. For example in one state you have a Republican running against an Independent, yet the I will not answer questions of who he will align with or where he stands on key positions. So how in the world can you vote for someone you know nothing about?

But some people believe that if you stop early voting it will disenfranchise minorties so that makes you a racist. BS! Again if you can not make it to the polls on election day then absentee ballot is what you can do. And the black turn out is going to be back at normal levels as Obama is not running.