RALEIGH – The Republican-controlled NC Senate today unveiled 상원 법안 747, an omnibus elections bill that would create barriers for voters casting an absentee ballot by mail and unnecessarily complicate popular same-day registration, among a variety of other provisions.

Under current law adopted with unanimous support by the legislature in 2009, absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day can be accepted by county boards of elections up to three days after Election Day.

That three-day grace period has been an important safeguard to help ensure voters don’t have their ballot unfairly thrown out because of delays in mail delivery. Notably, current Republican leaders Sen. Phil Berger and now-House Speaker Tim Moore were among those lawmakers who voted in favor of the three-day grace period in 2009.

But the newly unveiled Senate Bill 747 would eliminate the three-day window for receiving absentee ballots, potentially putting thousands of eligible ballots in jeopardy.

Among a variety of other provisions, the bill would require voters using same-day registration to cast a provisional ballot. And it would bar county election boards from accepting private grants to help fill budget shortfalls, while not providing state money to bridge funding gaps.

The Senate’s omnibus comes after Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who aided Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, met with Republican legislators to push her radical anti-voter agenda. One of Mitchell’s chief supporters in North Carolina, Jim Womack, admitted that he “fundamentally disagrees” that it’s a good thing for conservatives if more people vote.

다음은 다음의 성명입니다. Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina:

“Our state is fortunate to have a secure and accessible election system. But instead of strengthening our elections, politicians in the legislature are pushing an agenda to create unfair barriers for voters and place unrealistic burdens on election administrators – with no good reason.

Voting absentee by mail is an especially important option for older North Carolinians, people with disabilities, and those who lack transportation. The legislature recognized that when it unanimously voted in 2009 to create the three-day grace period. Closing that window now would hurt voters and could result in lawful ballots being unfairly thrown out.

And the measure would prohibit boards of elections from accepting grants to fill funding gaps. Yet the bill offers no state funds to make up the difference, leaving election administrators without vital resources.

We urge lawmakers to oppose these unnecessary restrictions and reject anti-voter extremism pushed by fringe groups. Instead, legislators should work to build on the successes of our election system and protect everyone’s freedom to vote.”

Common Cause North Carolina는 미국 민주주의의 핵심 가치를 옹호하는 데 전념하는 비당파적 풀뿌리 조직입니다. 우리는 공익을 위해 봉사하는 개방적이고 정직하며 책임감 있는 정부를 만들고, 모든 사람을 위한 평등한 권리, 기회 및 대표를 촉진하고, 모든 사람이 정치 과정에서 자신의 목소리를 낼 수 있도록 힘을 실어주기 위해 노력합니다.