Spectacular Magazine - August 2014 | Page 8

COMMENTARY VOTER MISINFORMATION ABOUNDS WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS By Dr. Ada Fisher From the NAACP to the liberal left to Democrats to the media, rampant attacks have been launched on the Voter ID Bill in North Carolina and other areas though the courts have upheld similar laws in Georgia and South Carolina. This act is in no way a voter suppression effort as those who malign it have tried to define it. Every citizen can vote and is encouraged to do so with a series of outreach and educational efforts suggested for the county boards of election. It must be noted that it is the counties which determine early voting sites. This is usually based on population locations spread throughout the counties. These decisions all rest within the province of county boards of election. As of noon for the first day of early voting at the Rowan County Public Library, one of the main voter locations in Salisbury, NC, only 11 people had appeared to vote. The amount of money spent for these low turnout off year election efforts is a rightful concern as county expendable dollars shrink. Voter suppression is more by voters who won’t vote rather than any planned effort by dominating parties. Help America Vote Act is the name of a federal 2002 law not unique to North Carolina. HAVA was instituted to insure that only citizens vote per the US Constitution’s mandate as well as that the voter is who he/she says he/she is. NC has termed a part of its supportive similar legislation Voter Information Verification Act or “VIVA” The NC Voter ID Law had one major (S.L. 2013-381) with photo ID required problem that all are remiss in not except for those over 70, having discussing publically which relates to religious objections, in cases of natural how student voters are handled. In disasters or those needing curbside Elizabeth City, NC a student there assistance. Public opinion polls suggest petitioned to run for the city council 70% support for this. Where people while being a resident in a dorm. His don’t have such a document, one will initial denial was overturned on appeal be provided without charge through the to the Board of Elections in appreciation Department of Motor Vehicles and likely that the Supreme Court of the state and other options will be given before 2016’s nation had ruled that students who live full implementation. Voter Misinformation CONTINUES ON PAGE 9 GENERATIONS ACT! By Jaymes Powell Dire warning: If Millennials, Generation X’ers, Baby Boomers and Flappers don’t come together, vote and stop North Carolina’s GOP, many of our children will have no chance for a productive future. Together, those still having the right to vote need to collecti ٕ