It’s time to take action for safe voting — before it’s too late.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, NC House lawmakers have just filed emergency election legislation. As drafted, House Bill 1169 would relax some poll worker recruitment requirements, reduce vote-by-mail witness requirements to one, and provide a modest financial match to release critical, federal election funds to our counties. While HB1169’s common-sense proposals would make it easier for some to cast a ballot amid the pandemic, it ignores other key bipartisan recommendations provided months ago and adds unnecessary and potentially-confusing photo voter ID language already blocked by two separate courts.
Amendments to HB1169 are immediately needed in the House Elections and Ethics Committee to expand voter protections, and ensure this vital legislation does more to keep all of our state’s voters safe during the 2020 elections.
ACT NOW: Tell House Elections and Ethics Committee to expand HB1169 with measures that:
- allow more access to voter registration by extending mail-in and online deadlines,
- broaden access points for mail-in voting requests by allowing voters to use HAVA IDs to access ballots (like a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck, or other government-issued ID), and
- expand safe in-person voting and avoid long lines by giving flexibility back to counties to make Early Voting plans that best serve their communities.
No one knows what the future holds, but we should all agree: NC should not repeat the mistakes of states that have unnecessarily exposed voters to the deadly coronavirus. Your actions now will encourage lawmakers to make important decisions sooner than later that make sure no voter – regardless of party — is left behind this fall.