David Cox: Misrepresenting process

Regarding the Aug. 23 letter “Woodhouse memo an understandable GOP communication”: Kami Mueller’s contention that “Democrats support letting people register and vote on the same day with no verification of eligibility” misrepresents the process. The truth is, same-day registration requires the same identification and verification as normal registration.

The person registering has to present identification and at least one document verifying residence. Identification requirements are spelled out in federal law. The county board of elections then verifies the address by mailing a postcard marked for return if undeliverable. During one-stop, boards must mail cards within 48 hours. If the postcard is returned as undeliverable before canvass (13 days after the end of one-stop), the ballot is not counted. There is ample time between one-stop and canvass for complete verification.

Mueller’s contention that out-of-precinct voting creates chaos is equally fallacious. Not only that, the case she cites of fraudulent voting during the primary election was not caught by a check of voter ID (which was in effect at the time), but by a computer check of voters that has been routine for years and remains in place.

I was glad the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recognized the reality that the N.C. General Assembly had focused “like a laser” on measures intended to suppress the vote of African Americans. Apparently the General Assembly thought that when the Supreme Court removed the requirement for Justice Department preclearance, it also meant the remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act no longer apply. Bad guess.

I’m from Mississippi, and I know about voter suppression. In fact, my home county suppressed my voter registration in 1960 while I was serving at sea in the Western Pacific. The Federal Post Card Application form had no blank for race, and the registrar didn’t want to inadvertently register a black person. I understand how that works.

I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two. Let’s not turn North Carolina into a clone of Mississippi.

The length limit was waived to permit a fuller response to the issue.

This story was originally published August 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "David Cox: Misrepresenting process."