Republicans Send Wrong Message on Protecting Elections
by Jay Chaudhuri (D — Wake) and Natasha Marcus (D — Mecklenburg)
In North Carolina, we’re carrying out a comprehensive and aggressive strategy against COVID-19 that’s saving lives and keeping our citizens safe. That’s the immediate goal.
As we approach the 2020 Elections, we must also focus on protecting the underpinnings of our democracy by keeping our polling places open and safe and expanding mail-in voting options for all who request it. That should be the goal for November. And, it should be a bipartisan goal.
Unfortunately, Republican Pro Tem Phil Berger has set a discouraging tone for the upcoming General Assembly session. Senator Berger makes two arguments about why we should not expand mail-in voting. First, he contends that expanding mail-in voting will result in voter fraud similar to absentee ballot fraud during the recent Congressional election. Second, he
acknowledges distrust towards Governor Roy Cooper and those he appointed on the State Board of Elections. As he told the Charlotte Observer editorial board, “There is zero trust that this process would be fair and transparent.”
First, we believe we must modernize our absentee ballot process. Just as the pandemic has forced us to rethink our how we eat, play, and pray, it has also forced us to rethink how we vote. North Carolina is in the small minority of states that requires an absentee ballot to be signed by two witnesses or a notary public. At a time when close contact with others could be unsafe, this requirement presents an unfair barrier to voting by mail. Our best guidance comes from red and blue states that have revised such witness requirements in light of social distancing requirements. Rhode Island recently eliminated their witness requirement. The Executive Director of South Carolina’s Election Commission recently urged state leaders to eliminate the witness requirements also.
Absentee ballot security can be safely and more effectively addressed by requiring a secure signature verification process. A well-designed signature verification system compares the signature on an incoming ballot envelope with the signature on file with the voter’s registration, other signatures in the state’s database such as the Division of Motor Vehicles, and prior returned mailed ballots. The more reference signatures available for a voter, the better the system works. States like Colorado and Utah use this modern method and North Carolina should too. In addition, some states’ ballot envelopes are equipped with intelligent mail bar codes linked to the postal service that allow voters and election official to track the envelope.
It’s clear that the burdensome current absentee ballot law is unworkable and dangerous during this pandemic. People shouldn’t have to risk their lives to vote.
Second, if Senator Berger prefers not to work with Governor Cooper on election reform, we urge him to work in good faith with Senate Democrats. For the sake of democracy and every citizen of the state, we believe it’s vital to work across the aisle to protect our voting rights and our public health. If we work together now, we can avoid the chaos that Wisconsin voters faced during their recent primary.
The 2020 election will begin in about six months and absentee ballots will begin to go out in three months. COVID-19 is unpredictable at best and will likely still be a threat in the fall.
The General Assembly can and should take commonsense actions now to ensure the integrity of this election. We look forward to working out bipartisan solutions upon our return to Raleigh this month.
