Commentary on an "Important N&O article on voter registration" | Eastern North Carolina Now

    RALEIGH     Hundreds of North Carolinians – and one cat – have received incorrect voter registration information, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.

    The information – an "official application form" – was sent by Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative group with a state chapter based in Raleigh.

    Since then, hundreds of people who received the forms have called and complained to the State Board of Elections, said Joshua Lawson, a public information officer for the board.

    "It's unclear where (Americans for Prosperity) got their list, but it's caused a lot of confusion for people in the state," Lawson said.

    One resident even received a voter registration form addressed to her cat, he said.

    The information – an "official application form" – was sent by Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative group with a state chapter based in Raleigh.

    Read more by clicking here.

    My commentary for BCN:

    We have heard about the changes in Voter Registration rules for NC. I am not in favor of ANYTHING which makes any voter have unnecessary blocks as a barrier to expressing his right to vote, come November. The current deadline is October 10.

    I vote in Surry Township at the Bath Ruritan building. It has always been easy and polite with a list in front of the folks monitoring it. We state our name and address at the table. They look in the computer sheets and present us with the place to sign, after which we get the ballot. This prevents any "graveyard ghosts" from illegal voting.

    It is a clear and written record, should any issues be raised. Each candidate has the right to monitor the process in case they think something "irregular" is taking place. It is all done with good fellowship here. If you want to have a nice time to chat with neighbors, it is that as well. Our spirit in Bath when it comes to voting time is the same as it is generally. The wise person drives with his hand on top the steering wheel because so many people smile and wave here! It's classic small town friendly.

    We all know the voting districts are "strange" due to redistricting. The word "jeremandering" describes a purposeful change in districts to favor one party over the other. Both Parties have been guilty throughout NC history of trying to "fudge the vote" in this fashion.

    NC has become famous for being a Progressive State in years past. We proved it by wisely defeating the attempt to establish Ferry Tolls. Now that is back in the hands of the local transportation board. Letting the local population control its own matters is always wise and progressive, in my view.

    Politics has become more than contentious in recent years. Now the Koch Brothers are putting big money into the Tillis Campaign. Their hope is to get rid of Kay Hagan and re-balance Congress. They like the tax breaks of Reaganomics. They are delighted with the NC decision to allow Fracking. Time has proven that the rich and corps have spent large sums overseas in manufacturing and banking. That's not a fair use of the "trickle down" assumption behind the current tax code. I liked the concept, BUT its corruption is a nightmare of unbalanced budgets and Federal borrowing to cover the lack of tax income to state and federal coffers.

    Each Party wants to blame the other. I see it as "HATE-filled lack of cooperation" to help taxpayers who pay the funds.

    Jesus put it clear and right: "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil."