Help me make this the last post about Same-Day Registration.
Submitted by Oliver Queen on Mon, 06/18/2007 - 10:20pm
This is an important, if simple, post. Something strange is going on with the Same-Day Registration Bill and we need to stop it. If you can swing it, please come to the legislature at 12:30 tomorrow. I'll be there, outside of General Assembly Room 1027 with a cadre of committed Young Democrats.
Don't believe me? Here's what Jack Betts wrote in yesterday's Observer:
Sen. Dan Clodfelter thought it "rather odd" when he got an e-mail at 2:34 in the afternoon on June 5 from State Auditor Les Merritt asking him to take a bill off the agenda when the Senate convened in 26 minutes.
...
"We had no notice there was a strategic review," he says. "It's an odd coincidence that it pops up just the day before consideration of the bill."
If you can, please join us at the committee meeting to show your support for HB 91. If we're successful, it's the last time I'll have to ask.
And if you can't make it, here are talking points and contact instructions. Thanks again for helping YDNC and the people of North Carolina.
Trackback URL for this post:
http://bluenc.com/trackback/6792
- Oliver Queen's blog
- Login or register to post comments
I will be there
give me a call as you get to town sam
Draft Brad Miller-- NC Sen ActBlue
same day registration issues - please read
The right reason to support Same Day Registration is not to increase turnout, at least not in my opinion.
The right reason to support Same Day Registration is to increase the number of valid ballots cast and counted on election day, and to reduce the number of provisional ballots issued and counted/or discarded after election day.
About 35% of provisional ballots are discarded, and that is a real waste. A good deal of manpower is expended on provisional ballots.
One concern that some have about Same Day Registration is that it will lead to fraudulent registrations. Thats wrong, in fact, people are less likely to try to fool the system when they have to register to vote - in person. It is a Class I felony to falsify a registration application!
The real issue is this: election officials (tell me) are very worried about the additional work and their ability to handle it along with all of their other great responsibilities during election season.
They WILL need additional poll workers to deal with the unpredictable rush of people registering same day.
Election officials are also in need of poll workers who can handle laptop computers or e-poll books. Not something your average 70-80 year old poll worker can do.
Many officials complain to me that they aren't privy to technically adept poll workers, so I hope folks will start volunteering (you do get paid).
The good news - the labor spent registering people same day can suplant the labor expended on issuing provisional ballots, and the additional post election labor expended on approving and counting (or rejecting) provisional ballots.
With Same Day Registration, we can hope to greatly reduce provisional ballots and increase the number of valid ballots counted.
No more of either political party having to fight county by county over the provisionals.
Please consider using my arguments FOR SDR and avoid the "it will increase turnout" argument. Politicians on both sides of the aisle fear exactly what that "increased" turnout might mean.
Remember how Jesse Ventura got elected governor? Same Day Registration of a lot of independent voters. He spent about 100 Grand on his campaign.
To be printed and carried with
tomorrow. Thanks, NCVoter.
In addition
More in-person registration = less fraud = People like McHenry lose primaries
1 Thessalonians 5:21: But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
The behind-the-scenes stuff
on this bill is very very very strange and ugly. Don't know what's going on but it seems very non little-d democratic to me.
News of the 10th district: See Pat Go Bye Bye,
Ilike this idea
for several reasons, but I hope it can be instituted in such a way to not increase waiting time at the polls for previously registered voters.
I would hate to see this received negatively, possibly decreasing voter turnout from perceived long lines. If they could shunt the non-registered into a special waiting line it would help.
eta: it appears my concerns are not grounded, as the (Senate) version allows SDR & voting up to three days prior to election day, but not actually on election day, so it won't impact waiting times. Me like.
see
you just gotta have faith in Rep Ross
Draft Brad Miller-- NC Sen ActBlue
edit- Gary Barlett said that early on the SBOE had some concerns with the bill, so Rep Ross went to them for a sit down, they made recommendations, and she apparently incorporated all of their concerns. So this is very much a well put together bill.
I'm there in spirit
and wish I could be there in person.
Thomas S. Brock
www.brocknet.net
http://blogs.brocknet.net/brocklog/
Has anyone heard from the boys?
Thomas S. Brock
www.brocknet.net
http://blogs.brocknet.net/brocklog/
SDR voted out of committee-Clodfelter quote: "If you're going to
A friend of mine in Raleigh reports this quote by Senator Daniel Clodfelter:
"If you're going to blow the whistle, you need to know whether there is a problem or not."
Something like that.
Also, Merritt hemmed and hawed for about 30 minutes, said something about being caught up in something or other, said his actions didn't relate to the DOJ memo.
Also, Merritt said that the Same Day Registration bill is probably a good bill.
I think the SDR bill was then voted out of committee nearly unanimously, with 1 dissenting vote.
Wow, you get solid information.
Under the Dome basically has the same story. Even picked up on that Clodfelter quote too (third post from the top).
Not yet
I'm getting anxious.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Ok I admit
I was derelict in my duties. Talking to Grier Martin was more interesting than hearing Merritt hem and haw.
The one question I caught was Senator Nesbitt asking Merritt if we should just stop all elections or if we can actually start getting things done.
Merritt whined and moaned and said some stuff, and by the end of it I think 90% of the people in the room thought he looked like an idiot.
I talked to an SBOE employee afterwards and she was peeved about the whole thing. I think Merritt might have gotten this bill more votes (I hope and pray) with his dimwitted antics. If I was a Republican I would be unhappy with him for looking so foolish.
Draft Brad Miller-- NC Sen ActBlue
HB 91 Same Day Reg hearing Wednesday After 2:45
Coming up tomorrow: HB 91 Ross REGISTRATION AND VOTING AT ONE-STOP SITES
NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
2007 SESSION
SENATE CALENDAR
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 Legislative Day 84
SENATE CONVENES - 2:45 P.M.
JOINT SESSION CONVENES - HOUSE CHAMBER - 3:00 P.M.
Confirmation of Governor's Appointments to
The State Board of Education
SECOND READING
HB 91 Ross REGISTRATION AND VOTING AT ONE-STOP SITES.
Sen Com Sub 4/2 Sel. Comm. on Gov. & Elect. Reform
(3rd Ed.) 6/4 Unfav Com Sub; Sen Sel. Comm. on Gov. &
(Id S 195) Elect. Reform Com Sub Adopted
6/5 W/D Cal; Cal 6/6
6/6 W/D Cal; Cal 6/12
6/12 W/D Cal; Cal 6/20
6/18 W/D Cal of 6/20; rerefer Sel. Comm. on
Gov. & Elect. Reform
Sel. Comm. on 6/19 Fav
Gob. & Elect.
Reform
Issac Hunter's Tavern on yesterday's flogging
http://wunc.org/news/Isaac-Hunters-Tavern/tuesday-dressing-down
- - - - -
Where Liddy At?
Where is Liddy?
Anyone seen Liddy?