SUN JOURNAL NEW BERN

Bills would tweak N.C. election laws


May 11, 2011


Barry Smith

RALEIGH – Changes could be coming to an election near you.

Under bills making their way out of the House Elections Committee on Wednesday:

• Early voting would be shortened by a week.
• Special elections and referendums would be held on regular general election days.
• County commissioner vacancies could be filled by an election rather than by the board of commissioners.
• Absentee voting for the military would conform to federal standards, possibly changing second primaries in federal elections.

Little opposition was voiced when most of the bills were heard in committee, except for the proposal to shorten early voting. That proposal brought forth cries of voter suppression.

“This is just another way of cutting down on the number of people who go vote,” said Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham.

The sponsor of the bill, unaffiliated Rep. Bert Jones of Rockingham County, said he was trying to cut down on expenses for local boards of elections and to make it easier for candidates to coordinate their mailers and advertising campaigns.

“The question is, how many election days should we have in North Carolina?” Jones asked. He said shortening the early voting period would save local elections boards about $2,000 per day per voting site.

But Democrats were not convinced.

Rep. Angela Bryant, D-Nash, said the longer early voting period helped candidates who had a lot of volunteers and “sweat equity.” They could help get their supporters to the polls, she said.

The bill restricting special elections and referendums to days when other municipalities or counties are having general elections was aimed at greater transparency and having the votes during higher turnout elections, said the sponsor, Rep. Harry Warren, R-Rowan.

The bill would also give county commissioners charged with filling vacancies on their own boards the option of filling those terms through an election.

The military absentee bill, sponsored by Rep. Grier Martin, D-Wake, would align North Carolina’s law with national standards. It would set standards for electronic transmission of ballots.

Second primaries involving federal elections (such as U.S. Senate or U.S. House) would be conducted 10 weeks after the first primary.

Barry Smith is editor and publisher of M2Mpolitics.com. You can call him at 919-821-5570 or email him at barrysmith@freedom.com.
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