Early Voting Sites should be easier to find in this Fall’s Elections, at least in North Carolina’s Biggest Cities, because of an Order issued by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, on Friday July 17th.
North Carolina Republicans say the Change to Statewide Voting Rules is just a Partisan Ploy to help Democrats, but State Officials say it’s necessary to help Protect Voters against the Coronavirus.
The Order came as Democrats have been Criticizing the Long Lines people have had to Wait in to Vote, especially amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, that made National News earlier this summer in Georgia and Wisconsin.
“If we do not take these measures, we risk much longer lines at voting sites and greater possibility of the spread of the coronavirus,” state Elections Director, Karen Brinson Bell, said in announcing the Changes Friday. “These are not acceptable risks in this important election year when we expect turnout to be high.”
The Order says that every County in North Carolina must have at least One Polling Place for every 20,000 Residents. That’s probably Not going to Lead to much Change in Smaller Rural Areas, which tend to Lean Conservative, but could Force the Creation of Many Additional Polling Places in Urban, more Liberal-Leaning areas, said State Sen. Ralph Hise (R-47th District, Spruce Pine).
The Board of Elections, Appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper (D) from Nominees by the Political Parties, has a 3-2 Democratic Majority. The Board Appointed Brinson Bell as the Director.
“It appears that areas with high concentrations of Democrats will have dozens of early voting sites while more Republican areas may have just one,” Hise said in a Press Release. “How is it fair or equitable for voters of one party to be able to walk down the street to vote early, while voters of another party will need to drive for miles and miles to vote early?”
There’s nothing stopping Rural Areas from Creating more Early Voting Sites, although Cost could be a Factor. Hise also Questioned how the State expects Urban Counties to pick up the Unexpected New Costs of Staffing more Early Voting Sites than they’ve been Planning for.
The Order does Allow Counties to Apply for a Waiver, which could be an Option for Local Leaders concerned with the Cost, but only if they can Prove that their Current Plan is Sufficient to Meet Social Distancing needs and probably won’t Lead to Long Lines.
“The State Board of Elections must clarify this situation immediately, and also explain how they expect counties to pay for this out-of-left-field change,” Hise said.
Pat Gannon, a Spokesman for the State Elections Board, said Counties should be able to Pay for any Increased Costs using Money from the CARES Act Funding the Federal Government Approved for Coronavirus Relief, and that the State has also been trying to Help County Election Officials Save Money on other Costs, including by Buying them Personal Protective Equipment. “We’re taking many steps to ensure that the counties have the equipment and the funding necessary to conduct an election amid this pandemic,” he said.
Pat Ryan, a Spokesman for GOP Senate Leader Phil Berger, said Lawmakers were also Upset that Brinson Bell announced the Changes with No Warning, “without the opportunity to have discussed the changes with anybody” at the Legislature.
Gannon said the Board’s Five Members, Three Democrats and Two Republicans, were All briefed on the Proposed Changes before they were Announced. Brinson Bell didn’t Need the Board’s Vote, though, and Announced the Changes Herself.
In addition to the Potential Addition of Early Voting Sites, Brinson Bell’s Order also has Rules for the Hours Polling Places will have to be Open, and Coronavirus Safety Measures they will be Required to follow. “This order gives more opportunity to voters this year, assuring they can cast their ballot at a time and in a manner that is most comfortable for them,” she said. “This order is the right thing to do because no North Carolinian should fear exposure to disease when they cast their ballot.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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