House passes one-stop voter shop
By: Caroline Fryar, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: State & National
A bill that will allow voters to both register and vote at one-stop voting sites was passed by the N.C. House on Thursday, although some argue that its proof of identification standards are too low.
The bill is designed to make it easier to vote because North Carolina currently ends voter registration 25 days before an election.
"It'll help to increase access to voting by having them both at the same place on the same day," said Jessi Jungblut, a senior psychology major from New Jersey.
"Whenever something's not easy, it's not going to happen."
Proponents of the new legislation think it will increase voter turnout by streamlining the registration process, but opponents are concerned about the potential of increased voter fraud.
Majority Whip Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, who sponsored the bill and has worked on it for four years, said she thinks it will improve voter turnout across the board. She said North Carolina ranks 15th worst in the nation in terms of voter turnout.
The bill requires that registration be done in person and that proof of identity and address be provided via one of several valid documents, such as a bank statement or driver's license, but does not specifically require photo identification.
House Republicans put forth amendments to the bill that would tighten voting security to prevent voter fraud, but these amendments were not adopted.
The bill passed the House in a vote that was heavily divided along party lines - only four Republicans voted for its passage.
"We would have supported the bill if they would have required a picture ID," said Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, House minority leader.
"There's just a real problem with someone coming in at the last minute with a utility bill of whoever they say they are. … You could've come in from outer space.
"People could go from precinct to precinct and sway an election, if it were very close."
Ross said she disagreed with the Republicans' amendments.
"A lot of younger people, older people and poorer people don't have photo ID," she said. "We're talking about a fundamental constitutional right - you don't deny those things lightly."
Jeff Spinner-Halev, a UNC political science professor, said he does not think the bill will increase student voting.
"We know the students don't vote - they don't feel rooted in the community where they live; they're not going to go home to vote; and absentee ballots are hard to get.
"It might increase voter turnout at the margins," he added. "This seems to be much ado about nothing."
Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe, one of the bill's primary sponsors, said having more people vote is better than fewer people.
"Anything we can do to get more people voting is the right thing to do."
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
The bill is designed to make it easier to vote because North Carolina currently ends voter registration 25 days before an election.
"It'll help to increase access to voting by having them both at the same place on the same day," said Jessi Jungblut, a senior psychology major from New Jersey.
"Whenever something's not easy, it's not going to happen."
Proponents of the new legislation think it will increase voter turnout by streamlining the registration process, but opponents are concerned about the potential of increased voter fraud.
Majority Whip Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, who sponsored the bill and has worked on it for four years, said she thinks it will improve voter turnout across the board. She said North Carolina ranks 15th worst in the nation in terms of voter turnout.
The bill requires that registration be done in person and that proof of identity and address be provided via one of several valid documents, such as a bank statement or driver's license, but does not specifically require photo identification.
House Republicans put forth amendments to the bill that would tighten voting security to prevent voter fraud, but these amendments were not adopted.
The bill passed the House in a vote that was heavily divided along party lines - only four Republicans voted for its passage.
"We would have supported the bill if they would have required a picture ID," said Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, House minority leader.
"There's just a real problem with someone coming in at the last minute with a utility bill of whoever they say they are. … You could've come in from outer space.
"People could go from precinct to precinct and sway an election, if it were very close."
Ross said she disagreed with the Republicans' amendments.
"A lot of younger people, older people and poorer people don't have photo ID," she said. "We're talking about a fundamental constitutional right - you don't deny those things lightly."
Jeff Spinner-Halev, a UNC political science professor, said he does not think the bill will increase student voting.
"We know the students don't vote - they don't feel rooted in the community where they live; they're not going to go home to vote; and absentee ballots are hard to get.
"It might increase voter turnout at the margins," he added. "This seems to be much ado about nothing."
Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe, one of the bill's primary sponsors, said having more people vote is better than fewer people.
"Anything we can do to get more people voting is the right thing to do."
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
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A Concerned Voter
posted 4/03/07 @ 2:41 PM EST
www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/APN/704023589
YOUNG VOTERS - OR NOT: A campaign reform group backing same-day voter registration reports that more young people in North Carolina engaged in binge drinking than voted during recent presidential elections. (Continued…)
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