Preventing Voter Fraud or Encouraging Voter Suppression ...
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1 Preventing Voter Fraud or Encouraging Voter Suppression? Exploring North Carolina’s Controversial Voter ID Law Overview After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, the North Carolina legislature passed a controversial bill (HB 589, Voter Information and Verification Act, or VIVA) that, among other provisions, mandated that all North Carolinians show a valid photo ID when voting. In August 2016, the 4 th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down most of VIVA’s provisions. In this lesson, students will explore voting laws in North Carolina and weigh the pros and cons of bills like VIVA. Based on class discussion and the evidence they collect throughout the lesson, students will make an informed decision regarding their opinion about North Carolina’s election laws. Grade 10 North Carolina Essential Standards for Civics and Economics • CE.C&G.4.3 - Analyze the roles of citizens of North Carolina and the United States in terms of responsibilities, participation, civic life and criteria for membership or admission (e.g., voting, jury duty, lobbying, interacting successfully with government agencies, organizing and working in civic groups, volunteering, petitioning, picketing, running for political office, residency, etc.) • CE.C&G.5.1 - Analyze the election process at the national, state and local levels in terms of the checks and balances provided by qualifications and procedures for voting (e.g., civic participation, public hearings, forums, at large voting, petition, local initiatives, local referendums, voting amendments, types of elections, etc.) Materials • Hallie Smith’s Election Day Disappointment, scenario attached (to be provided to ½ of the class) • Jeffrey O’Brien Votes Twice on Election Day, scenario attached (to be provided to ½ of the class) • Preventing Voter Fraud or Encouraging Voter Suppression? Exploring North Carolina’s Election Changes PowerPoint accompaniment; available in the Database of K-12 Resources (in PDF format): https://k12database.unc.edu/files/2016/09/ExploringNCVoterIDLaw_PPT.pdf o To view this PDF as a projectable presentation, save the file, click “View” in the top menu bar of the file, and select “Full Screen Mode” o To request an editable PPT version of this presentation, send a request to [email protected] o TEACHER NOTE: In order to include comprehensive information, several slides in the PPT are very text heavy. It is recommended that teachers request an editable version of this presentation to edit slides down to specifically address student level and individual classroom needs. • Excerpts from the Supreme Court’s Majority and Dissenting Opinions in Shelby County v. Holder, attached • Excerpts with summaries of the Supreme Court’s Majority and Dissenting Opinions in Shelby County v. Holder, attached • Governor McCrory’s Video Statement regarding VIVA. Video is available here: • http://www.governor.nc.gov/videos/20130812/governor-mccrory-signs-popular-voter-id-law • “In Rural N.C., New Voter ID Law Awakens Some Old Fears” transcript attached; audio and text available at http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fears o If choosing to play the audio for students, teachers will also need access to the internet and speakers • North Carolina’s Voter ID Bill – Pros and Cons, handout attached
Transcript of Preventing Voter Fraud or Encouraging Voter Suppression ...
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PreventingVoterFraudorEncouragingVoterSuppression?ExploringNorthCarolina’sControversialVoterIDLaw
OverviewAftertheSupremeCourt’srulinginShelbyCountyv.Holder,whichstruckdownkeyprovisionsoftheVotingRightsAct,theNorthCarolinalegislaturepassedacontroversialbill(HB589,VoterInformationandVerificationAct,orVIVA)that,amongotherprovisions,mandatedthatallNorthCaroliniansshowavalidphotoIDwhenvoting.InAugust2016,the4thCircuitCourtofAppealsstruckdownmostofVIVA’sprovisions.Inthislesson,studentswillexplorevotinglawsinNorthCarolinaandweightheprosandconsofbillslikeVIVA.Basedonclassdiscussionandtheevidencetheycollectthroughoutthelesson,studentswillmakeaninformeddecisionregardingtheiropinionaboutNorthCarolina’selectionlaws.Grade10NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsforCivicsandEconomics• CE.C&G.4.3-AnalyzetherolesofcitizensofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStatesintermsof
responsibilities,participation,civiclifeandcriteriaformembershiporadmission(e.g.,voting,juryduty,lobbying,interactingsuccessfullywithgovernmentagencies,organizingandworkingincivicgroups,volunteering,petitioning,picketing,runningforpoliticaloffice,residency,etc.)
• CE.C&G.5.1-Analyzetheelectionprocessatthenational,stateandlocallevelsintermsofthechecksandbalancesprovidedbyqualificationsandproceduresforvoting(e.g.,civicparticipation,publichearings,forums,atlargevoting,petition,localinitiatives,localreferendums,votingamendments,typesofelections,etc.)
Materials• HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointment,scenarioattached(tobeprovidedto½oftheclass)• JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay,scenarioattached(tobeprovidedto½oftheclass)• PreventingVoterFraudorEncouragingVoterSuppression?ExploringNorthCarolina’sElectionChanges
PowerPointaccompaniment;availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources(inPDFformat):https://k12database.unc.edu/files/2016/09/ExploringNCVoterIDLaw_PPT.pdfo ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe
file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected] TEACHERNOTE:Inordertoincludecomprehensiveinformation,severalslidesinthePPTareverytext
heavy.Itisrecommendedthatteachersrequestaneditableversionofthispresentationtoeditslidesdowntospecificallyaddressstudentlevelandindividualclassroomneeds.
• ExcerptsfromtheSupremeCourt’sMajorityandDissentingOpinionsinShelbyCountyv.Holder,attached• ExcerptswithsummariesoftheSupremeCourt’sMajorityandDissentingOpinionsinShelbyCountyv.
Holder,attached• GovernorMcCrory’sVideoStatementregardingVIVA.Videoisavailablehere:• http://www.governor.nc.gov/videos/20130812/governor-mccrory-signs-popular-voter-id-law• “InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFears”transcriptattached;audioandtextavailableat
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fearso Ifchoosingtoplaytheaudioforstudents,teacherswillalsoneedaccesstotheinternetandspeakers
• NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandCons,handoutattached
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o Thishandoutisthreepages.Thefirstpageofthehandout(containingthepro/conchart)shouldbecopiedonaseparatesheetofpaperandprovidedtostudentsasastand-alonepieceforthefirst5-8minutesoftheactivity.Thenexttwopagescanbecopiedfront/backandshouldbeprovidedlaterintheactivity.
• “U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterIDLaw”article,attached• NCVoterIDBillBumperStickerassignment,attached(optional)Duration60-90minutes(timewillvarydependingonthedepthofstudentdiscussionandwhichactivitiesareimplemented)Procedure
WarmUp:PreventingVoterFraudvs.SecuringtheRighttoVote1. Asawarm-up,instructstudentstopartnerupandprovidehalfofthepartnergroupswiththeattached
“HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointment”scenario.Providetheremainingsetsofpartnerswiththeattached“JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay”scenario.(Ideally,teacherswillcopyeachscenarioonadifferentcolorofpaper,whichwillmakethesecondpartofthiswarm-upactivityeasier.)Instructstudentstoreadthescenariowiththeirpartnerandtodiscussthequestionsontheirhandoutstogether.
2. Afteritseemsthatmostpartnersetsarebringingtheirdiscussionstoaclose(likelyaround5-8minutes),bringtheclassbacktogetherandaskforavolunteertofirstshareasummaryofHallieSmith’sexperienceonElectionDay.Askadditionalstudentswhoworkedwiththisscenariotosummarizesomeoftheirthoughtstothequestions.Movetoslide2ofthePowerPointanddiscussthefollowingquestionsasaclass:• Whatdoesitmeantobedisenfranchised?WasHalliedisenfranchised?Whataretheargumentsfor
“yes,shewas?”Whataretheargumentsfor“no,shewasnot?”Whatisyourpersonalopinion?
3. Next,askavolunteerwhoreadaboutJeffreyO’Brien’sElectionDaytosummarizehisscenario.Alsoasksomeofthestudentstosummarizetheirthoughtstothequestions.Movetoslide3-5ofthePowerPointanddiscuss:• WhywaswhatJeffreydidwrongandillegal?• HowwouldyoufeelifyouhadspentjustasmuchtimeasJeffreyvolunteering,butyouwereinstead
workingforSenatorJones’sopponent?• WhatisthelawregardingvoterfraudinNC?
o InNorthCarolina,thereareanumberofdifferentactsthatmightbeconsideredvoterfraud,someofwhicharemisdemeanorsandotherfelonies.
o Forexample,class2misdemeanorsincludethingsliketakingaballotoutofthevotingenclosureorhelpingsomeoneuseamechanicaldevicetomarkaballot.
o Crimessuchasfalselyregistering,representingyourselfassomeoneelse,votingillegally,payingsomeonetovoteaparticularway,falselyswearingtoanydocument(likeanabsenteeballotapplication),etc.isconsideredmoreseriousanddeemedaClassIfelony.(TheprincipalstatutesareGS163-273,-274,-275.)
• Basedonthisinformation,whatisJeffreyguiltyof?o Apersonwhofraudulentlysignsthepollbookorimpersonatesanothervoterisguiltyofafelony.
• Howoftendoyouthinkthistypeofvoterfraudoccurs?(Allowstudentstodiscusstheirthoughtsandtellthemyouwillcomebacktothispointlater.)
• WhatcouldhavepreventedJeffreyfromcommittingvoterfraud?4. AfterstudentshavediscussedJeffrey’sscenariomovetoslide6,encouragethemtocompareandweigh
thetwoscenariostogether:• Inwhatwaysarethesetwoscenariossimilar?Inwhatwaysdotheycontrast?
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• WouldJeffreyhavebeenabletocastTyrone’svoteatMrs.Smith’snursinghome?Likewise,wouldMrs.SmithhavebeenabletocasthervoteatJeffreyorTyrone’spollingplace?
• Whereisthebalancebetweenpreventingvoterfraudandsecuringacitizen’sabilityandrighttovote?Howdoweensureboth?
5. Letstudentsknowthatwhilethesescenariosarefictional.TellstudentsthatvotingrightsandvoterID
lawshavebeenamuchdiscussedtopicacrosstheUnitedStatesforthelastdecadeorso.TheNorthCarolinalegislaturepassedacontroversialvotinglawin2013.Thebill’sRepublicansponsorssayitwaspassedtofightvoterfraudandensurethateveryvoteiscounted.ButDemocratsopposedthebill,claimingitisapoliticaltactictokeepmanyoftheirsupportersawayfromthepolls.Theyalsoclaimitisaregressivemeasurethatwilldisenfranchisecertainvoters.
6. Tellstudentsyouwantthemtoexplorethisproposal,butfirst,givethemsomebackgroundinformationonthepreviousIDlawinNorthCarolina:• Until2013,newregistrantsareaskedtoprovidetheirdriverlicensenumberorthelastfourdigitsof
theirSocialSecuritynumberontheregistrationform.IftheapplicantisregisteringbymailorthroughavoterregistrationdriveanddoesnotprovidealicensenumberorthelastfourdigitsoftheSocialSecuritynumber,thenheorshewillberequiredtopresentoneofthefollowingformsofidentificationtoanelectionofficialwhenvotingforthefirsttime:o Acurrentandvalidphotoidentificationo Acurrentutilitybill,bankstatement,governmentcheckorpaycheck,oragovernmentdocument
thatshowsthevoter'snameandaddressasitappearsontheregistrationapplication.• WhenavoterisvotingonElectionDayhe/sheisaskedtostatetheirnameandaddresstotheelection
official.Thevotermustthensignthepollbook.Apersonwhofraudulentlysignsthepollbookorimpersonatesanothervoterisguiltyofafelony.(Source:NCCenterforVoterEducation)
OPTIONAL:Voting,theConstitution&theVotingRightsAct
7. Next,explaintostudentsthatbeforetheylookatNC’svoterIDlaw,they’regoingtolearnsomebackgroundinformationaboutlawspertainingtovoting.Useslides7-10toprovideaquickoverviewofvotingandtheConstitution,includingtheAmendmentsthataddressvotingrightsandtheVotingRightsActof1965.Usetheoptionaldiscussionquestionsbelowtocheckforstudentunderstanding:• WhydoyouthinktherearesomanyamendmentstotheConstitutionthataddressvotingrights?• WhywastheVotingRightsActnecessary?Isitnecessarytoday?Whyorwhynot?• Howcanmightpolltaxesandliteracytestsbediscriminatory?Whodotheydiscriminateagainst?• Isvotingafundamentalright?Whyorwhynot?
OPTIONAL:ShelbyCountyv.HolderJigsaw
8. Informstudentsthatin2013,theSupremeCourthandeddownoneofthemostimportantandcontroversialvotingrightscasesinyearswithShelbyCountyAlabamav.Holder.Slides11-12listthebasicfactsofthecase,thequestionatthecenterofthecase,andtheCourt’sruling,includinganimagethatshowseachJustices’vote.
9. Afterreviewingthebackgroundofthecase,explaintostudentsthattheywilleachreceiveanexcerptfrom
themajorityopinionwrittenbyChiefJusticeJohnRobertsorthedissentingopinionwrittenbyJusticeRuthBaderGinsburg.Movetoslide13andreviewthejigsawactivityinstructions.
Next,dividestudentsintogroupsof3-5andprovideeachstudentinthegroupwithadifferentexcerpt.Therearefivetotalexcerpts,threefromthemajorityopinionandtwofromthedissentingopinion.Teachersshoulddecidewhichexcerptstheywouldliketousebeforehand.
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Ø Teachernote:Acopyoftheexcerpts,withaplainlanguagesummary,isattachedforstudentswhomayneedextraassistance.
10. Providestudentswith5-10minutestoreadtheirassignedexcerptandanswerthequestionsonslide13.
Aftertheallottedtime,instructstudentstosharetheirthoughtsabouttheirexcerptswiththeirgroups.Oncestudentshavehadachancetoshareanddiscusstheirexcerpts,discussthefollowingquestionsasaclass:• WhatreasonsdidthemajorityagreetostrikedownpartsoftheVotingRightsAct?Doyouagreewith
thosereasons?Whyorwhynot?• HowdoyouthinkShelbyCountyimpactedtoNorthCarolina?
o Duetoahistoryofdiscrimination,theVotingRightsActrequired40countiesinNorthCarolinatoobtainpreclearancefromtheDOJbeforechangingtheirelectionlaws.Afterthisruling,noneofthesecountieswererequiredtoobtainpreclearance.
VIVA–NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw
11. InformstudentsthatshortlyaftertheSupremeCourt’srulinginShelbyCountytheNorthCarolinaLegislaturedraftedVoterInformationandVerificationAct(VIVA),whichbecameknownas“NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw.”(IfteachersarenotimplementingtheabovejigsawactivityonShelbyv.Holder,asummaryofthecaseshouldatleastbeprovided.)Thebill’sRepublicansponsorssayitwaspassedtofightvoterfraudandensurethateveryvoteiscounted.ButDemocratsopposedthebill,claimingitisapoliticaltactictokeepmanyoftheirsupportersawayfromthepolls.Theyalsoclaimeditwasaregressivemeasurethatwilldisenfranchisecertainvoters.Thebillwaspassedandsignedintolawin2013.
12. Shareslide14,whichcontainsthemajorprovisionsofVIVA.ForamorecomprehensivelookatVIVA,visitWRAL’selectionchangessite:http://www.wral.com/election-changes-coming-in-2014-2016/12750290/• WhydoyouthinkthelegislaturepassedthisbillandGovernorMcCrorysigneditintolaw?
13. PlayGovernorPatMcCrory’svideostatementexplainingwhyhesignedVIVAintolaw.Thevideois
availablehere:http://www.governor.nc.gov/videos/20130812/governor-mccrory-signs-popular-voter-id-law.Discussionquestions:• WhydidGovernorMcCrorysignthisbill?• Howisvotingdifferentthancashingacheck,boardinganairplane,orbuyingSudafedatthe
drugstore?• Doyouthinkthat2016isenoughtimetoimplementavoterIDsystem?Whyorwhynot?• Asidefromthecost,whatotherdifficultiesmightpeoplefacetryingtogetavalidphotoID?• DidthisresponseanswerallofthequestionsyouhavehadaboutVIVA?Ifnot,whatareasofthelaw
didhefailtoaddress?• GovernorMcCrorysays,“ManyofthosefromtheextremeleftwhohavebeencriticizingphotoIDare
usingscaretactics.They’remoreinterestedindivisivepoliticsthanensuringnoone’svoteisdisenfranchisedbyafraudulentballot.”Whatkindofscaretacticsdoyouthinkopponentsofthislawareusing?
• DoyouagreewithGovernorMcCrory’sdecisiontosignthebillintolaw?Whyorwhynot?• IfyoucouldaskGovernorMcCroryaquestionaboutsigningthisbill,whatwouldyouaskhim?
14. Manyopponentsofthebillclaimedthatthislawdiscriminatedagainstminorityvoters,students,andother
citizens.Providestudentswithsomebackgroundinformationonthelaw’sopponentsbyplayingtheshortaudioclip“InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFears.”(Teachersmayalsowanttoprojectorhandoutthetranscriptforstudentstofollowalong.)Thetranscriptisattached,andthetranscriptandaudioisavailableathttp://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fears.(Teacherswithoutaccesstotheinternetandspeakersintheclassroomcanalsoprintand
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distributethetranscriptofthestoryforstudentstoread.)Afterstudentslistentoand/orreadthestory,discussthefollowingquestions:• Howdoescuttingearlyvotingtimesimpactsomepeople’sabilitytovote?• WhataresomeobstaclesthatpreventpeoplefromobtainingtheproperIDneededtovote?• Usingwhatyou’velearnedaboutVIVA,doyoufindMr.Lawrence’sstatementthat,he“doesn’tknowa
personthatdoesn’thaveanIDcardofsometypeoranother”tobeproblematic?Whyorwhynot?• CanyoustillvotewithoutanID?Whatchallengesarepresentedbyabsenteevoting?• DidyouagreewithNCSenatorBobRucho’sstatement?Whyorwhynot?• WhatdidAlisaChangmeanwhenshesaid,“Theseaccusations,thiskindofsuspiciongivessomevoters
inNorthCarolinatheunsettlingfeelingthathistoryisrepeatingitself”?Doyouagreeordisagreewithher?Why?
• DidthisreportanswerallofthequestionsyouhadaboutVIVA?Ifnot,whatpartsofthelawdiditfailtoaddress?
• IfcitizensofNorthCarolinaheardthisreport,doyouthinktheywouldchangetheirmindaboutsupportingVoterIDlaws?Whyorwhynot?
• Ifyoucouldaskonepersonfromthisstoryaquestion,whowouldyouchooseandwhatwouldyourquestionbe?
ProsandConsofVoterIDLaws
15. Next,tellstudentsthatinpartners(orsmallgroupsof3-4),theyaregoingtoweightheprosandconsoftheNCvoterIDlaw.Givestudentstheattached“NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandCons”handoutandgoovertheinstructions.(Teachersshouldcopythefirstpageofthehandoutcontainingthechartonaseparatepieceofpaper.Afterstudentshavespent5-6minutescompilingtheirownpros/consintothechart,providethemwiththenexttwopagesofthehandout.Studentsshouldtakeanother10minutestoconsidertheseadditionalargumentsaswellasnotetheirindividualopinionsattheendoftheactivity.)Oncediscussionhaswanedwithinthegroups,allowstudentstosharesomeoftheiropinionsregardingthebill.Encouragestudentstobacktheiropinionsupwithevidencethattheyhavelearnedthroughoutclass.
FourthCircuitRulingonVIVA16. InformstudentsthatinJuly2016,theFourthCircuitCourtofAppealsstruckdownpartsofVIVA.
Shareslide15withtheclassanddiscuss:• TheCourt’srulingstruckdownorreinstatedwhichpartsofVIVA?
o OverturnedvoterIDprovisionsrequiringIDtovoteatthepollsandreinstatedthefollowing:17-dayearlyvoting,preregistrationfor16&17yearolds,andout-of-precinctvoting.
• Whydoyouthinkthe4thCircuitCourtofAppealsmadethisdecision?WhatisyouropinionoftheCourt’sdecision?
17. ProvidestudentswiththeattachedNPRArticle,“U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterID
Law.”Readthearticlealoudasaclassanddiscuss:• Accordingtothearticle,whydidthe4thCircuitCourtstrikedownpartsofVIVA?• Accordingtothe4thCircuit’sopinion,howdidVIVAdiscriminateagainstAfricanAmericans?• IfthepreclearancesectionsoftheVotingRightsActwerestillenforceable,doyouthinktheNC
legislaturewouldhavebeenabletoenactVIVA?Whyorwhynot?• Afterreadingthisarticle,doyouagreeordisagreewiththeSupremeCourt’sreasoninginShelby
Countyv.Holder?• DoyoubelieveweneedvoterIDlawstoprotecttheintegrityofourelections?Whyorwhynot?• Doyoubelievethere’saneedforaConstitutionalAmendmenttoensurethateveryonehastheright
tovote?Whyorwhynot?18. SharewithstudentsthatinAugust2016,theSupremeCourtdeclinedtointervenetoblockthe4thCircuit’s
ruling:
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AccordingtoReuters:“TheU.S.SupremeCourtonWednesdayrejectedabidbyNorthCarolinatoreinstateforNovember’selectionsseveralvotingrestrictions,includingarequirementthatpeopleshowidentificationatthepolls.Theeight-justicecourt,dividedinmostpart4-4,rejectedarequestmadebyRepublicanGovernorPatMcCroryafteranappealscourtruledlastmonththatthe2013lawdiscriminatesagainstminorityvoters.Fivevotesareneededforanemergencyrequesttobegranted.”Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-election-idUSKCN1162RUDiscuss:• ThinkbacktoourdiscussionaboutShelbyCountyv.Holder-whatwasthevotein?(5-4)• Whywasthisvote4-4?(JusticeAntoninScaliadiedandhisseatontheSupremeCourtwasunfilledas
ofSeptember2016.)• WhatdoyouthinktheoutcomewouldhavebeenifScaliawasaliveatthetimeofthisvote?• Doesthissayanythingaboutoursystemofgovernmentandlaw?
OptionalCulminatingAssignments
19. Optionally,studentscanbegivenoneofthefollowingculminatingassignmentsforhomework:• Writeane-mailtoyourNClegislativerepresentativesstatingyouropinionaboutvoterIDlaws,
specificallyexplainingwhetheryousupportwherethingscurrentlystandafterthe4thCircuitsappealofpartsoftheVoterIDlawinNC.Youre-mailshouldbeatleastthreeparagraphslongandinclude:o YouropiniononvoterIDlawso Evidencetobackupyouropiniono TheactionyouwanttheNCGeneralAssemblytotake(i.e.,respecttheCourt’sdecisionand
refrainfromputtingforthsimilarbills,orcontinuethefight)andwhytheyshoulddoso• Createabumpersticker(seeattachedassignmentsheet)
AdditionalSources/Readings:
• HowhasvotingchangedsinceShelbyCountyv.Holder?:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/07/07/how-has-voting-changed-since-shelby-county-v-holder/
• NorthCarolinaVoterIDBillisaNecessaryEvil:http://www.policymic.com/articles/56901/north-carolina-voter-id-bill-is-a-necessary-evil
• HowvoterIDlawsviolatetheNCConstitution:http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/13/2821143/how-voter-id-laws-violate-the.html
• VoterIDBillraisescontroversyinNorthCarolina:http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57595791/voter-id-bill-raises-controversy-in-north-carolina/
• What’stheMatterWithNorthCarolina?http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/07/north_carolina_s_voter_id_law_is_the_worst_in_the_country.html
• WhattoKnowAboutNCVoterID,ElectionsOverhaul:http://ncvotered.com/research/2013/8_14_13_elections_overhaul.php
• NCGOvPatMcCroryDefendsNewVoterIDLaw:http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/13/voter-id-mccrory
• LawsuitsfiledafterGov.PatMcCrorysignsvoterIDbill:http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/12/3102133/mccrory-signs-voter-id-bill.html
• LawsuitstakeaimatNorthCarolinaVotingLaw:http://nation.time.com/2013/08/13/lawsuits-take-aim-at-north-carolinas-voting-law/
• IsNorthCarolina’sVoterIDBillCommonSensePolicyorDiscrimination?http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec13/voting_08-13.html
• NCGOPChairmanApplaudsGovernorMcCrory’sSigningofHistoricVoterIDBill:http://www.ncgop.org/ncgop-chairman-applauds-governor-mccrorys-signing-of-historic-voter-id-bill/
• NorthCaroliniansOpposeVoterBill:http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/08/north-carolinians-oppose-voter-bill.html
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• DemocracyNorthCarolina,VotingRights:http://www.democracy-nc.org/our-issues/voting-and-elections/voting-rights/
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HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointmentOnElectionDaylastNovember,HallieSmith,a78year-oldwoman,usedherwalkertoslowlymakeherwaydownstairstothepollingstationsetupinthelobbyofherIndianapolisretirementhome.Mrs.SmithvotedeveryyearandalwayslookedforwardtoElectionDay.AnAfricanAmericanwoman,shewellunderstoodthehardworksomanyCivilRightsactivistshaddonetoensureshehadtherighttovote.Eventhoughshewasfeelingtiredthatdayandherbackwasbotheringheragain,shewouldn’tmissElectionDayforanythingintheworld.
Assoonassheenteredthelobby,Mrs.Smithsaidhellotoseveraloftheelectionofficialsandvolunteersworkingthepolls.She’dknownthemforyearsandhadwatchedseveralofthemgrowup.Yet,asshestoodthereatthetablepreparedtocastherballot,holdingherselfuponwalkerasbestshecould,shewastoldthatshecouldnotvote.Thepollworkerssaidtheformsofidentificationshehadwithher,whichshehadalwaysused—aphonebillwithhernameonit,aSocialSecurityletterwithheraddressonit,andanexpiredIndianadriver'slicense—werenolongervalidunderIndiana'snewvoterIDlaw.ThenewlawrequiredapictureID,suchasavaliddriver’slicenseoranothercurrentstate-issuedphotoidentificationcard.
Ms.Smithcastaprovisionalballotthatday,butitwasnevercounted.Shewouldhavehadtogodowntotheelectionsofficewithin10daystoproveheridentitywithanewphotoID.Mrs.Smith,whohastroublewalking,wasn’tabletofindaridetotheoffice.
1. InwhatwaydidIndianapolis’svoterlawschange?
2. AlthoughseveralofthepollworkershasknownMrs.Smiththeirwholelife,andeventhoughshehadseveraldocumentsthatprovedheridentity,whywassheunabletocastaregularballot?
3. Whydidn’tMrs.SmithhaveavalidphotoID?
4. Inwhatothersituationsmightsomeonenothaveacurrentstate-issuespictureID?
5. HowdoyouthinkMrs.Smithfeltnothavinghervotecounted?
6. WaswhathappenedtoMrs.Smithatherpollingplacefairandjust?Whyorwhynot?
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JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay
Duringthelastpresidentialelection,JeffreyO’Brienspenthundredsofhoursvolunteeringforhispresidentialcandidateofchoice.HebelievedmorethananythingthatSenatorSheilaJoneswouldmakethebestleaderforthiscountryandhewaswillingtodowhateverhecouldtoensureshewon.
Hevolunteeredatthelocalcampaignheadquarters,knockedondoorsandhandedoutliteratureabouther,registeredvotersatseveralvoterregistrationdrivesaroundtown,andhelpeddirecttrafficatseveraleventsthatSenatorJonesspokeatinhisstate.
OnElectionDay,Jeffreywasincrediblyexcitedbutequallynervous.Afterallthatwork,whatifhiscandidatedidn’twin?Hewasfirstinlineathispollingplacethatmorning.AsiscurrentlythelawinNorthCarolina,heprovidedhisnameandaddresstothepollworker,whothenhadhimsignthepollbook.
AfterJeffreyhadvoted,hecalledhisfriendTyronewholivedonecountyover.JeffreywasdistraughtwhenTyronesaidhewasn’tplanningonvotingthatday.Tyroneexplainedthathedidn’thavetime,sincehewasworkinga12hourday.Jeffreywellunderstoodthedifferencejustonevotecouldmake.Hedecidedthathecouldn’tstandthethoughtofSheilaJoneslosingevenonevote.
Jeffreygotinhiscaranddrovetotheneighboringcounty,findingthepollingplacewhereTyronewouldhavecasthisvotewerehenotworkingthatday.Jeffreywentinsideandwhenthepollworkeraskedforhisnameandaddress,JeffreypretendedtobeTyrone.HesignedthepollbookwithTyrone’snameandforasecondtimethatday,hecastavoteforSheilaJones.
1. AsaregisteredvoterinNorthCarolina,whatdidJeffreyhavetodotobeabletocasthisballotathispollingplace?
2. WaswhatJeffreydidfairandjust?Whyorwhynot?
3. InwhatwaydidJeffreybreakNorthCarolinalawonElectionDay?DoyouknowwhatcouldhappentoJeffreyifhewerecaught?
4. WaswhatJeffreydidfairandjust?Whyorwhynot?5. IsthereanythingthatcouldhavepreventedJeffreyfromcommittingvoterfraud?
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ExcerptsfromtheMajorityOpinion
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#1Atthesametime,votingdiscriminationstillexists;noonedoubtsthat.ThequestioniswhethertheAct’sextraordinarymeasures,includingitsdisparate(different)treatmentoftheStates,continuetosatisfyconstitutionalrequirements.Asweputitashorttimeago,“theActimposescurrentburdensandmustbejustifiedbycurrentneeds.”TheVotingRightsActsharplydepartsfromthesebasicprinciples.Itsuspends“allchangestostateelectionlaw—howeverinnocuous—untiltheyhavebeenpreclearedbyfederalauthoritiesinWashington,D.C.”StatesmustbeseechtheFederalGovernmentforpermissiontoimplementlawsthattheywouldotherwisehavetherighttoenactandexecuteontheirown,subjectofcoursetoanyinjunction.TheAttorneyGeneralhas60daystoobjecttoapreclearancerequest,longerifherequestsmoreinformation.IfaStateseekspreclearancefromathree-judgecourt,theprocesscantakeyears.Anddespitethetraditionofequalsovereignty[betweenthestates],theActappliestoonlynineStates(andseveraladditionalcounties).WhileoneStatewaitsmonthsoryearsandexpendsfundstoimplementavalidlyenactedlaw,itsneighborcantypicallyputthesamelawintoeffectimmediately,throughthenormallegislativeprocess.Evenifanoncoveredjurisdictionissued,thereareimportantdifferencesbetweenthoseproceedingsandpreclearanceproceedings;thepreclearanceproceeding“notonlyswitchestheburdenofprooftothesupplicantjurisdiction,butalsoappliessubstantivestandardsquitedifferentfromthosegoverningtherestofthenation.”
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#2Buthistorydidnotendin1965.BythetimetheActwasreauthorizedin2006,therehadbeen40moreyearsofit.Inassessingthe“currentneed[]”forapreclearancesystemthattreatsStatesdifferentlyfromoneanothertoday,thathistorycannotbeignored.Duringthattime,largelybecauseoftheVotingRightsAct,votingtestswereabolished,disparitiesinvoterregistrationandturnoutduetoracewereerased,andAfrican-Americansattainedpoliticalofficeinrecordnumbers.AndyetthecoverageformulathatCongressreauthorizedin2006ignoresthesedevelopments,keepingthefocusondecades-olddatarelevanttodecades-oldproblems,ratherthancurrentdatareflectingcurrentneeds.TheFifteenthAmendmentcommandsthattherighttovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedonaccountofraceorcolor,anditgivesCongressthepowertoenforcethatcommand.TheAmendmentisnotdesignedtopunishforthepast;itspurposeistoensureabetterfuture.
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#3Ourdecisioninnowayaffectsthepermanent,nationwidebanonracialdiscriminationinvotingfoundinSection2.WeissuenoholdingonSection5itself,onlyonthecoverageformula.Congressmaydraftanotherformulabasedoncurrentconditions.Suchaformulaisaninitialprerequisitetoadeterminationthatexceptionalconditionsstillexistjustifyingsuchan“extraordinarydeparturefromthetraditionalcourseofrelationsbetweentheStatesandtheFederalGovernment.”Ourcountryhaschanged,andwhileanyracialdiscriminationinvotingistoomuch,Congressmustensurethatthelegislationitpassestoremedythatproblemspeakstocurrentconditions.
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ExcerptsfromtheDissentingOpinion
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#4WithoverwhelmingsupportinbothHouses,Congressconcludedthat,fortwoprimereasons,Section5shouldcontinueinforce,unabated.First,continuancewouldfacilitatecompletionoftheimpressivegainsthusfarmade;andsecond,continuancewouldguardagainstbacksliding.ThoseassessmentswerewellwithinCongress’provincetomakeandshouldelicitthisCourt’sunstintingapprobation.ThestatedpurposeoftheCivilWarAmendmentswastoarmCongresswiththepowerandauthoritytoprotectallpersonswithintheNationfromviolationsoftheirrightsbytheStates.Inexercisingthatpower,then,Congressmayuse“allmeanswhichareappropriate,whichareplainlyadapted”totheconstitutionalendsdeclaredbytheseAmendments.McCulloch,4Wheat.,at421.SowhenCongressactstoenforcetherighttovotefreefromracialdiscrimination,weasknotwhetherCongresshaschosenthemeansmostwise,butwhetherCongresshasrationallyselectedmeansappropriatetoalegitimateend.“Itisnotforustoreviewthecongressionalresolutionof[theneedforitschosenremedy].ItisenoughthatwebeabletoperceiveabasisuponwhichtheCongressmightresolvetheconflictasitdid.”Katzenbachv.Morgan,384U.S.641,653(1966).Untiltoday,inconsideringtheconstitutionalityoftheVRA,theCourthasaccordedCongressthefullmeasureofrespectitsjudgmentsinthisdomainshouldgarner.
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#5TheCourtholds§4(b)invalidonthegroundthatitis“irrationaltobasecoverageontheuseofvotingtests40yearsago,whensuchtestshavebeenillegalsincethattime.”Ante,at23.ButtheCourtdisregardswhatCon-gresssetabouttodoinenactingtheVRA.Thatextraordinarylegislationscarcelystoppedattheparticulartestsanddevicesthathappenedtoexistin1965.ThegrandaimoftheActistosecuretoallinourpolityequalcitizenshipstature,avoiceinourdemocracyundilutedbyrace.Astherecordforthe2006reauthorizationmakesabundantlyclear,second-generationbarrierstominorityvotingrightshaveemergedinthecoveredjurisdictionsasattemptedsubstitutesforthefirst-generationbarriersthatoriginallytriggeredpreclearanceinthosejurisdictions.Seesupra,at5–6,8,15–17.Thesadironyoftoday’sdecisionliesinitsutterfailuretograspwhytheVRAhasproveneffective.TheCourtappearstobelievethattheVRA’ssuccessineliminatingthespecificdevicesextantin1965meansthatpreclearanceisnolongerneeded.Ante,at21–22,23–24.Withthatbelief,andtheargumentderivedfromit,historyrepeatsitself.ExcerptseditedbyCarolinaK-12fromthefollowingsource:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/annotated-supreme-court-decision-on-voting-rights-act.html
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Excerpts&SummariesfromtheMajorityOpinion
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#1Atthesametime,votingdiscriminationstillexists;noonedoubtsthat.ThequestioniswhethertheAct’sextraordinarymeasures,includingitsdisparate(different)treatmentoftheStates,continuetosatisfyconstitutionalrequirements.Asweputitashorttimeago,“theActimposescurrentburdensandmustbejustifiedbycurrentneeds.”[…]TheVotingRightsActsharplydepartsfromthesebasicprinciples.Itsuspends“allchangestostateelectionlaw—howeverinnocuous—untiltheyhavebeenpreclearedbyfederalauthoritiesinWashington,D.C.”StatesmustbeseechtheFederalGovernmentforpermissiontoimplementlawsthattheywouldotherwisehavetherighttoenactandexecuteontheirown,subjectofcoursetoanyinjunction.TheAttorneyGeneralhas60daystoobjecttoapreclearancerequest,longerifherequestsmoreinformation.IfaStateseekspreclearancefromathree-judgecourt,theprocesscantakeyears.Anddespitethetraditionofequalsovereignty[betweenthestates],theActappliestoonlynineStates(andseveraladditionalcounties).WhileoneStatewaitsmonthsoryearsandexpendsfundstoimplementavalidlyenactedlaw,itsneighborcantypicallyputthesamelawintoeffectimmediately,throughthenormallegislativeprocess.Evenifanoncoveredjurisdictionissued,thereareimportantdifferencesbetweenthoseproceedingsandpreclearanceproceedings;thepreclearanceproceeding“notonlyswitchestheburdenofprooftothesupplicantjurisdiction,butalsoappliessubstantivestandardsquitedifferentfromthosegoverningtherestofthenation.”
ChiefJusticeRobertsopenshisopinionbystatingthat"theVotingRightsActof1965employedextraordinarymeasurestoaddressanextraordinaryproblem,"usingthe"strongmedicine"ofapplyingheavyrequirementsonsomestatesandnototherstofightsuppressionofvotingrights.Hethensuggeststhatthoseruleshaveoutlivedtheirusefulness.
Invokingthe10thAmendment,whichreservespowerstothestatesthatarenotspecificallygrantedtothefederalgovernment,andcitingdoctrinesclaimingthatstatesshouldbetreatedequally,ChiefJusticeRobertsarguesthattheVotingRightsAct"sharplydeparts"fromtheseprinciplesofstates'rights.
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#2
Buthistorydidnotendin1965.BythetimetheActwasreauthorizedin2006,therehadbeen40moreyearsofit.Inassessingthe“currentneed[]”forapreclearancesystemthattreatsStatesdifferentlyfromoneanothertoday,thathistorycannotbeignored.Duringthattime,largelybecauseoftheVotingRightsAct,votingtestswereabolished,disparitiesinvoterregistrationandturnoutduetoracewereerased,andAfrican-Americansattainedpoliticalofficeinrecordnumbers.AndyetthecoverageformulathatCongressreauthorizedin2006ignoresthesedevelopments,keepingthefocusondecades-olddatarelevanttodecades-oldproblems,ratherthancurrentdatareflectingcurrentneeds.TheFifteenthAmendmentcommandsthattherighttovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedonaccountofraceorcolor,anditgivesCongressthepowertoenforcethatcommand.TheAmendmentisnotdesignedtopunishforthepast;itspurposeistoensureabetterfuture.
Thechiefjusticeconcludesthattimeshavechanged:theformulasthatgovernsinglingoutonestatefromanotherfordifferenttreatment,whichonce"madesense,"havelosttheirrelevance,and"nearly50yearslater,thingshavechangeddramatically."ButtherulesgoverningwhichjurisdictionsmustbeoverseenhavebeenrepeatedlypassedbyCongresswithoutchange.
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ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#3Ourdecisioninnowayaffectsthepermanent,nationwidebanonracialdiscriminationinvotingfoundinSection2.WeissuenoholdingonSection5itself,onlyonthecoverageformula.Congressmaydraftanotherformulabasedoncurrentconditions.Suchaformulaisaninitialprerequisitetoadeterminationthatexceptionalconditionsstillexistjustifyingsuchan“extraordinarydeparturefromthetraditionalcourseofrelationsbetweentheStatesandtheFederalGovernment.”Ourcountryhaschanged,andwhileanyracialdiscriminationinvotingistoomuch,Congressmustensurethatthelegislationitpassestoremedythatproblemspeakstocurrentconditions.
ChiefJusticeRobertscloseshisopinionbyexplainingwhatthedecisiondoesnotdo.ItdoesnotoverturntheVotingRightsAct'sbanondiscriminatoryvotingrules.Furthermore,itdoesnotdirectlyaffectthepreclearancerequirementinSection5,whichleavesCongresstheopportunitytodraftnewrules--basedoncurrentconditions--todeterminewhichstatesorlocalgovernmentsshouldbesubjecttopreclearance.ThedecisionallowsthoseaffectedbyvotingrulechangestosueunderSection2oftheact,butthatisalongerandmoreexpensiveprocessthatplacestheburdenofproofonthosechallengingthechanges.
SummaryofExcerptsfromtheDissentingOpinion
ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#4WithoverwhelmingsupportinbothHouses,Congressconcludedthat,fortwoprimereasons,Section5shouldcontinueinforce,unabated.First,continuancewouldfacilitatecompletionoftheimpressivegainsthusfarmade;andsecond,continuancewouldguardagainstbacksliding.ThoseassessmentswerewellwithinCongress’provincetomakeandshouldelicitthisCourt’sunstintingapprobation.ThestatedpurposeoftheCivilWarAmendmentswastoarmCongresswiththepowerandauthoritytoprotectallpersonswithintheNationfromviolationsoftheirrightsbytheStates.Inexercisingthatpower,then,Congressmayuse“allmeanswhichareappropriate,whichareplainlyadapted”totheconstitutionalendsdeclaredbytheseAmendments.McCulloch,4Wheat.,at421.SowhenCongressactstoenforcetherighttovotefreefromracialdiscrimination,weasknotwhetherCongresshaschosenthemeansmostwise,butwhetherCongresshasrationallyselectedmeansappropriatetoalegitimateend.“Itisnotforustoreviewthecongressionalresolutionof[theneedforitschosenremedy].ItisenoughthatwebeabletoperceiveabasisuponwhichtheCongressmightresolvetheconflictasitdid.”Katzenbachv.Morgan,384U.S.641,653(1966).Untiltoday,inconsideringtheconstitutionalityoftheVRA,theCourthasaccordedCongressthefullmeasureofrespectitsjudgmentsinthisdomainshouldgarner.
JusticeGinsburg,whowasacivilrightslawyerspecializingingenderissuesbeforejoiningtheSupremeCourt,writesastronglywordeddissent.Whileherfellowjusticesbelievethe"verysuccess"oftheact"demandsitsdormancy,"shenotesthatCongress"wasofanothermind"andhadreauthorizedtheactrepeatedly.Invotingrightscases,shewrote,thecourtshoulddefertoCongress,whichhasbeengivensweepingpowersundertheConstitution,andespeciallyinamendmentspassedaftertheCivilWar,toprotectsuchrights.Applyingdifferentrulestodifferentstatesisnothingsounusual,shewrote,andthecourtshouldonlyaskifthemethodsusedbyCongresstoaddresstheproblemarerational,andnotsubjectthemtoatoughertest."Congressapproachedthe2006reauthorizationoftheVRAwithgreatcareandseriousness,"shesaid."Thesamecannotbesaidofthecourt’sopiniontoday."
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ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#5TheCourtholds§4(b)invalidonthegroundthatitis“irrationaltobasecoverageontheuseofvotingtests40yearsago,whensuchtestshavebeenillegalsincethattime.”Ante,at23.ButtheCourtdisregardswhatCon-gresssetabouttodoinenactingtheVRA.Thatextraordinarylegislationscarcelystoppedattheparticulartestsanddevicesthathappenedtoexistin1965.ThegrandaimoftheActistosecuretoallinourpolityequalcitizenshipstature,avoiceinourdemocracyundilutedbyrace.Astherecordforthe2006reauthorizationmakesabundantlyclear,second-generationbarrierstominorityvotingrightshaveemergedinthecoveredjurisdictionsasattemptedsubstitutesforthefirst-generationbarriersthatoriginallytriggeredpreclearanceinthosejurisdictions.Seesupra,at5–6,8,15–17.Thesadironyoftoday’sdecisionliesinitsutterfailuretograspwhytheVRAhasproveneffective.TheCourtappearstobelievethattheVRA’ssuccessineliminatingthespecificdevicesextantin1965meansthatpreclearanceisnolongerneeded.Ante,at21–22,23–24.Withthatbelief,andtheargumentderivedfromit,historyrepeatsitself.Thestruggleforfairnessinelections,sheargues,isnotover,thoughthetacticsofthosewhowouldsuppressvotinghavechanged.Thecourt,shesaid,"errsegregiouslybyoverridingCongress'sdecision."ExcerptseditedbyCarolinaK-12fromthefollowingsource:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/annotated-supreme-court-decision-on-voting-rights-act.html
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InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFearsByAlisaChang
Thisweek,NorthCarolinaadoptednewrulesforelections.ThestatenowrequiresaphotoIDtovoteandearlyvotingwillbeshortenedbyoneweek.ThosemeasurescomeontheheelsoftheSupremeCourt'srulingthatinvalidatedakeyprovisionoftheVotingRightsAct.Criticssaythenewrulesreversedcrucialreforms.Thosereforms,theysay,helpedtoprotecttherightsofAfrican-Americans,youngpeopleandthepoor.NPR'sAilsaChangwenttoNorthCarolinatoexplorethenewlaw'spossibleeffects.
AILSACHANG,BYLINE:Sometimesyoucantellhowhardvotingcanbejustbylookingataplace.DrivethrougharuralpocketofnortheasternNorthCarolinacalledBertieCounty,andallyou'llseeformilesandmilesaretobaccoandsoybeanfields.You'llseelargefamiliescrammedintosmalltrailerhomesproppeduponcinderblocks.Andyou'llseenotmanyofthosehomeshavecarssittingoutside.
REVERENDVONNERHORTON:Manyofthesepersonsdon'thavecars.Theycan'taffordautomobiles.
CHANG:Soyearsago,ReverendVonnerHortonandherchurchusedtheearlyvotingsystemtomakesureasmanypeopleaspossiblecouldvote.Here'swhattheydo:Theysendvansacrossthecounty,doortodoor,topickpeopleupandtakethemtothepolls.Butthey'realwaysshortontime.Dothemath,shesays.Onechurchvanholdsabout10people.Gatheringthemupcantakemorethananhour.Thenyougottodrivetodifferentpollingplaceslongdistancesapart.Repeatallofthisafewmoretimesinonedayandyou'veonlygot50ballotsinthebox.Andthisnewlawhasnowcutearlyvotingfrom17daysto10.
HORTON:Losingthatweekisalsogoingtoputchallengesonusonhowwe'regoingtomoveacrossacountythat'stwohourswidetogetpeopletovotingpolls.
CHANG:There'sabigdemandtovoteearlyinBertieCounty.Lastyear,about6,000peopledidit,morethanhalfofallvotershere.Andevenifallthosevotersdidgetbacktopollingplacesagain,there'sanotherhurdlewiththenewrules:Youneedagovernment-issuedphotoIDtovoteinperson.
AlotofresidentsapplaudthisnewrulerequiringpictureIDs,likeMacLawrence.He'ssupervisingbigmachinescroppingleavesinhistobaccofield.
MACLAWRENCE:Ithinkthere'salotoffolksvotinginmorethanoneplace.Ifyoucan'tprovewhoyouare,thenyououghtnotbeabletovote.
CHANG:Actually,evidenceofvoterfraudinNorthCarolinaisprettyminimal.TheStateBoardofElectionshasreportedonlytwocasesofvoterimpersonationfraudinthelast10years.Still,Lawrencesays,presentinganIDishardlyaburden.
LAWRENCE:Idon'tknowapersoninBertieCountythatdoesn'thaveanIDcardofsometypeoranother.
CHANG:Well,morethan300,000registeredvotersinNorthCarolinalackeitheradriver'slicenseorastateID.That'swhatrecordsfromtheStateBoardofElectionsshow.AndinBertieCounty,accordingtoavotingrightsgroup,almost10percentofallvotersfallintothatcategory,mostofthempoorAfrican-Americans.Imetsomeofthematalocalchurch.
TERESAVALENTINE:MynameisTeresaValentine.
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CHANG:And,Teresa,doyouhaveastateIDoradriver'slicense?
VALENTINE:No,no.
SUDIESUTTON:MynameisSudieSutton.Idon'thaveadrivinglicenseorastateIDcard.
CHANG:ThenIcaughtEddieWinbornepullingweedsoutsidehistrailerhome.Helethisdriver'slicenseexpirewhenhewasinhis40s.Now,he'sthumbingthroughhiswallettolookforsomeotherID.
EDDIEWINBORNE:Gotoneofthem.
CHANG:Well,that'syourMedicarecard.
WINBORNE:Mm-hmm.
CHANG:Anythingwithyourpictureonit?
WINBORNE:No,don'thavenothingelsewithmypictureonit.
CHANG:Manyresidentsshowedmephotoidentificationforfoodstamps,butthatIDdoesn'tqualifyunderthenewlaw.Supportersofthelegislationsayevenifyoudon'thaveavalidphotoID,youcanstillvoteabsentee.Butyouneedtwowitnessestosignyourballotandyouhavetofilloutacountyelectionsform.Thatmightnotsoundlikeabigdeal,butReverendHortonsaysthatcanbearealobstacleforpoorpeople.You'retalkingaboutvoterswhodon'thaveInternetaccessintheirhomes,whowillneedhand-holdingtogetaballot.Sheremembersalargetornadothathittwoyearsago.
HORTON:Wehadpeoplefromthestorm,thesesameseniorsthathaddamagesandall,andcouldapplyforFEMA.Butbecausetheycouldnotreadorwrite,theydidn'twanttobebotheredwiththeapplicationprocess.
CHANG:SoHortonsayssheexpectsalotofpeoplejustwon'tbothertovoteabsentee,andtheycertainlywon'tbotherapplyingforaNorthCarolinastateIDjusttovote.Sotheymightnevercastaballotagain.Votingrightsadvocateshaveworkedmorethan10yearsfightingforreformslikelongerearlyvotingperiods,same-dayregistrationandpre-registrationof17-year-olds.Allofthatvanishedthisweek.BobPhillipsofCommonCausesayshefindsitastonishinghowfarbackwardsNorthCarolinahasgonewiththisnewlaw.
BOBPHILLIPS:It'sinterestinghowin2008,weledthecountryinhavingthelargestpercentageincreaseinvoterturnout.Interestingthatwhenwehavearecordturnout-arecordturnoutofyoungpeople,arecordturnoutofAfrican-Americans,suddenlywearepassinglawsthatarehittingharderthosepopulations.Whyisthat?
CHANG:Supportersofthelegislation,likeRepublicanStateSenatorBobRucho,saysuchtalkisnothingmorethanwhathecallsliberalrhetoricfrompeoplewhodon'tcareaboutvoterfraud.
SENATORBOBRUCHO:Whenchangesaremade,andpeoplearesoadamantlyopposedtothosechanges,inmyjudgment,they'retryingtohidesomethingorthey'retrying-they'rehavingsomethingtakenawayfromthem,inessence,thatmayallowthemtocheat.
CHANG:Theseaccusations,thiskindofsuspiciongivessomevotersinNorthCarolinatheunsettlingfeelingthathistoryisrepeatingitself.TellingAlbertaCurrie,thegreat-granddaughterofaslave,thatsheisnolongerwelcomeatapollingplacetakesherbacktoanuglytimeinNorthCarolina,atimeshethoughthad
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disappeared.Sheremembersvotingin1956inRobesonCounty,rightwhenshebecameeligibletovote.Becauseshewasblack,shehadtospendalldayatthepollingplace.
ALBERTACURRIE:Thewhitepeoplewentaheadofus.Thatmeanttheblackpeoplewouldbelast.Andifwegothomeatdusk-dark,wewashomeatdusk-dark.Weweren'thomeatlight.
CHANG:Curriehasconsistentlyvotedatpollingplaceseversincethatfirsttime.Butnow,shewon'tbeableto.Shecan'tgetastatephotoIDwithoutabirthcertificate.Shedoesn'thaveonebecauseshewasbornwithamidwifeonafarm.Curriesaysshe'senduredplentyofracisminherruralcorneroftheSouth,likethetimeshewashiredtocleanahighschoolandwhitestudentssplashedcansofurineonherwhenshewalkedhomefromwork.ThenewvotinglawinNorthCarolinameansAlbertaCurriewillnowhavetovoteabsentee.Butshesaysthat'snotreallyvoting.Youneedtoshowupinpersontovotewithdignity.
CURRIE:Iwanttoseemyvotecounted.Letmebethere.Iwanttobethere.Iwanttoseethat.
CHANG:Curriehasjoinedalawsuitagainstthestatehopingtostopthenewlawfromgoingintoeffectbecause,shesays,missingadayatthepollingplaceislikemissingchurch.It'sasifthere'sanemptyspotinsideyourselfyoufeelalldaylong.AilsaChang,NPRNews.
TranscripteditedforformattingbytheNCCivicEducationConsortiumfromthefollowingsource:http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fears
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NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw–ProsandConsInyoursmallgroup,discussthevariousargumentsforsupportingandopposingNC’svoterIDlaw.Comeupwithasmanylegitimateprosandconsasyoucanandnotetheminthechartbelow.Considerwhatwehavediscussedinclassaswellasyourownnewideas.
PROArgumentsinSupportoftheBill
CONArgumentsinOppositiontotheBill
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NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandConsHasyourgroupconsideredalltheargumentsinyourpro/conchart?Readthroughtheinformationbelowanddeterminewhethereachstatementworksinsupportofthebill(pro)oropposesthevoterIDbill(con).Somestatementsmayworkforboth.
o IfthestatementworksinfavorofvoterIDlaws(PRO),writeaPintheblank.o IfthestatementworksinoppositionofvoterIDlaws(CON),writeaCintheblank.o Placebothlettersinanyblankforwhichthestatementcouldworkforeitherside.o Ifyoualreadyconsideredthestatementinyourgroup’schart,placeaccheckinthe
blankalongwiththePorC.• _____NorthCarolinaisnottheonlystatewhereincreasedidentificationrequirementsareunder
consideration.Thereisanationwidepushtoincreaseidentificationrequirements.
• _____ThereisagrowingconsensusthatrequiringphotoIDtovotemayraisebarrierstovotingfortraditionallydisadvantagedgroups(i.e.students,theelderly,lowwealthcommunitiesandotherswhodonotpossessthemostcommonformofphotoID,adriver’slicense).
• _____AddingaphotoIDrequirementisnotofconcerntomanyvotersandwhenaskedinpublicopinion
surveys,manyareinclinedtosupportaddingaphotoIDrequirement.• _____TheregistrationpoliciesalreadyinplaceinNorthCarolinaandinmanyotherstatesmakephotoID
lawsredundantandhardlyjustifiableinlightoftheirprojectednegativeandundemocraticconsequences.• _____Evenonefraudulentvoteisonevotetoomany.Itunderminesconfidenceinourelectionsystemand
ourstateshoulddoanythingpossibletoensurevoterfrauddoesn’ttakeplace.• _____VoterturnoutintheUnitedStatesisalreadylow.Thisbillwilladdyetanotherinconvenience,thus
resultinginevenlesspeoplevoting.• _____The$834,000itwouldtaketoimplementthebillisnotalotofmoneyincomparisontootherstate
expenditures.Thus,ifitbecomeslaw,institutingthevoterIDrequirementwillnotbeafinancialburden.• _____Inthistougheconomy,the$834,000itwouldtaketoimplementthebillshouldbeallocatedtomore
pressingneedsinourstate,suchaseducationorjobscreation.• _____Itiseasytogetastate-issuedphotoI.D.Thereisnoreasoneverypersoneligibletovotecan’teasily
getsuchanIDandmostwillalreadyhaveone.• _____Ifpassedintolaw,theIDrequirementcancausediscrepancieswhenIDsarechecked.Itcanbe
difficultforpollworkerscompareIDphotoswithactualfaces.Drivers’licensesandUSPassportsarevalidforanumberofyears,sosomepeoplewon’tlookallthatmuchliketheirphotos.
• _____The1965VotingRightsActoutlawedliteracytestsandpolltaxesasawayofassessingwhether
anyonewasfitorunfittovote.ThelegislationdeterminedthatallanindividualneededtovotewasAmericancitizenshipandtheregistrationoftheirnameonanelectorallist.Noformofhindrancetothiswouldbetoleratedbythelawcourts.
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• _____AmendmentXIV-Section.1.OftheUSConstitutionstatesthat“AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttothejurisdictionthereof,arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereintheyreside.NoStateshallmakeorenforceanylawwhichshallabridgetheprivilegesorimmunitiesofcitizensoftheUnitedStates;norshallanyStatedepriveanypersonoflife,liberty,orproperty,withoutdueprocessoflaw;nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictiontheequalprotectionofthelaws.”
• _____Crawfordv.MarionCountyElectionBoard,553U.S.181(2008)wasaUnitedStatesSupremeCourt
caseholdingthatanIndianalawrequiringvoterstoprovidephotoIDsdidnotviolatetheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.A2005IndianalawrequiredallvoterscastingaballotinpersontopresentaUnitedStatesorIndianaphotoID.UndertheIndianalaw,voterswhodonothaveaphotoIDmaycastaprovisionalballot.Tohavetheirvotescounted,theymustvisitadesignatedgovernmentofficewithin10daysandeitherbringaphotoIDorsignastatementsayingtheycan'taffordone.TheDistrictCourtand7thCircuitCourtofAppealsbothupheldthelaw.Thecircuitcourtwasdeeplydivided,withthedissentcharacterizingthelawasathinly-veiledattempttodisenfranchiselow-incomeDemocraticPartyvoters.TheUSSupremeCourtalsoupheldthevoterIDlaw.
Yourfinalopinions(answerindividually):• IsrequiringaphotoIDanundueburdenuponvoting?Whyorwhynot?
• Inyouropinion,wouldthisbilldisenfranchisecertainvoters,ormakeitmoredifficultforparticulargroupsofpeopletocastaballot?
• Wouldthebillensurelessinstancesofvoterfraud,inyouropinion?• Ifyouwerethegovernor,wouldyouhavesignedthisbill?Whyorwhynot?
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U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterIDLawByCamilaDomonoskeforTheTwo-Way:BreakingNewsfromNPR
AfederalappealscourthasoverturnedNorthCarolina'ssweepingvoterIDlaw,rulingthatthelawwaspassedwith"discriminatoryintent"andwasdesignedtoimposebarrierstoblockAfrican-Americansfromvoting.Therulingcamefromathree-judgepanelofthe4thU.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals.Thestateis"almostcertain"toappealtothefullcourtortotheU.S.SupremeCourt,NPR'sPamFesslerreports.Thelawhasbeencontroversialeversinceitwasenactedin2013—"rightaftertheSupremeCourtstruckdownaprovisionoftheVotingRightsActthatmighthavepreventedthelawfromtakingeffect,"asPamhasreported."TheU.S.JusticeDepartment,thestateNAACPandotheradvocacygroupshavebeenfightingthechangeseversince,"Pamsays."Theysaythelawdiscriminatesagainstminoritiesandisunconstitutional.Amongotherthings,itrequiresvoterstoshowaphotoID,unlesstheysweartheyfaceda'reasonableimpediment'tryingtogetone."ButitdidmorethanjustrequirephotoIDs.MichaelTomsicofmemberstationWFAEexplainedlastsummerthatthelawrolledbackaseriesofchangesthatadvocatessayexpandedAfrican-Americanvoterparticipation:"Fordecadesinthestate,blackvoterturnoutlaggedfarbehindwhiteturnout.Then,in2000,statelawmakersopenedupanearlyvotingperiod.In2005,theysaidvoterscouldcastballotsoutsidetheirassignedprecinct.Andin2007,theyenabledsame-dayregistration."Afterthosechanges,attorneyAllisonRiggssays,blackvoterregistrationandturnoutsurged.
"'Theyhadtheirintendedeffectofeveningtheplayingfieldinthestate,andtheLegislatureyankedthataway,'shesays."The2013lawcutsearlyvotingbyaweek,requiresvoterstovoteintheirassignedprecinctandstopsvotersfromregisteringandvotingonthesameday.ThisApril,afederaljudgeruledthatthelawserveda"legitimatestateinterest"andconcludedtherewasnotsufficientevidenceofdiscriminatoryintent.Thatjudge'sopinionwashefty—485pages,packedwithfactualfindings.The4thCircuitwasn'timpressed."Weappreciateandcommendthe[lower]courtonitsthoroughness,"thepanelwrote,but"thecourtseemstohavemissedtheforestincarefullysurveyingthemanytrees."TheappealscourtnotedthattheNorthCarolinaLegislature"requesteddataontheuse,byrace,ofanumberofvotingpractices"—then,datainhand,"enactedlegislationthatrestrictedvotingandregistrationinfivedifferentways,allofwhichdisproportionatelyaffectedAfricanAmericans."Thechangestothevotingprocess"targetAfricanAmericanswithalmostsurgicalprecision,"thecircuitcourtwrote,and"imposecuresforproblemsthatdidnotexist."
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Theappealscourtsuggestedthatthemotivationwasfundamentallypolitical—aRepublicanlegislatureattemptingtosecureitspowerbyblockingvotesfromapopulationlikelytovoteforDemocrats."Ourconclusiondoesnotmean,andwedonotsuggest,thatanymemberoftheGeneralAssemblyharboredracialhatredoranimositytowardanyminoritygroup,"therulingreads.Itadds:"Butthetotalityofthecircumstances—NorthCarolina'shistoryofvotingdiscrimination;thesurgeinAfricanAmericanvoting;thelegislature'sknowledgethatAfricanAmericansvotingtranslatedintosupportforoneparty;andtheswifteliminationofthetoolsAfricanAmericanshadusedtovoteandimpositionofanewbarrieratthefirstopportunitytodoso—cumulativelyandunmistakablyrevealthattheGeneralAssemblyused[the2013law]toentrenchitself.Itdidsobytargetingvoterswho,basedonrace,wereunlikelytovoteforthemajorityparty.Evenifdoneforpartisanends,thatconstitutedracialdiscrimination."AsTomsicwrotelastyear,whatultimatelyhappenswiththiscasemighthaveimplicationsforvotingrightsacrossthecountry.Earlierthissummer,the5thCircuitCourtofAppealsruledthatavoterIDlawinTexashadadiscriminatoryeffect—althoughthejudgesdidnotruleonthequestionofdiscriminatoryintent,returningthecasetoalowercourtforreconsiderationofthatpoint.Source:http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/29/487935700/u-s-appeals-court-strikes-down-north-carolinas-voter-id-law
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NorthCarolina’sVIVABumperStickerCreateabumperstickerexpressingyourpersonalopiniononNorthCarolina’sVIVA.Youshouldalsoincludeawrittenparagraphexplainingthedifferentaspectsofyourbumpersticker.
TheBumperSticker
PossiblePoints/15Points Thebumperstickermustcontainanoriginalslogan,word,orphrasethatexpressesan
attitudeaboutvoterIDlaws./15Points Thebumperstickershouldbeartisticallydesigned(i.e.,containdrawings,symbols,
etc.)withathoughtfulcolorscheme/10Points Theoverallworkshouldbecreativeandmustclearlyshowtoitsviewerthatgreat
effortwasputforthincreatingandcompletingthebumpersticker./10Points Thebumperstickershouldbeappropriateforitsintendedaudience.
TheParagraph
PossiblePoints/15Points Theparagraphshouldexplainwhyyouchosetheexpressionyoudidandexactlywhat
itmeans./15Points Theparagraphshouldalsoexplainthetargetaudience.(Example:Republicanor
Democraticleaders,generalcitizens,civilrightsactivists,etc.)/10Points Theparagraphshouldincludeanexplanationoftheartisticqualitiesofthebumper
sticker.(Example:Whydidyouchoosethecolorsthatyoudid?)/10Points Theparagraphneedstobewritteninlegiblepenortyped.Youmustusecomplete
sentencesthatconnectideastoreceivefullcreditfortheassignment./100PointsTotalPointsforthisAssignment
