Lawsuit demands easier vote-by-mail process in NC

[RandySF]

A group of voters backed by Democratic legal groups sued North Carolina on Monday seeking to loosen rules around absentee mail-in ballots amid predictions that the coronavirus pandemic will make voting by mail a widespread practice.

They want the state to provide prepaid postage on all absentee ballots, change a requirement for two witnesses to sign a ballot, extend the deadline for receipt of ballots until nine days after Election Day and give voters a chance to fix signature discrepancies before election officials reject those ballots.

North Carolina’s state board of elections endorsed the first two provisions in a proposed list of election changes released in March.

“The current restrictions on mail ballots not only violate the state Constitution, but they also pose significant risks to voters’ health and safety, and, unless they are remedied, they could result in the disenfranchisement of an unprecedented number of North Carolinians,” said Marc Elias, a top Democratic elections attorney representing the challengers, in a statement.

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https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article242482266.html#storylink=cpy

[abqtommy]

1. Hey all my NC family members, listen up! Here in New Mexico we Dems found out that if

we elect a bunch of Democrats to our state government a lot of problems go away. While some
states are saying they'll make it easier to provide APPLICATIONS for absentee ballots, our Secretary
of State is sending out actual ABSENTEE BALLOTS to most registered voters, and it's easy for
others to get applications now, too.

So ease that frustration and vote for a Democrat! You'll be glad you did! And remember, no Democrat
will ever recommend that anybody drink bleach!

[littlemissmartypants]

2. FYI more Democrats than Republicans actually vote in North Carolina

but because our state has been so gerrymandered it has limited effects. Hopefully as the laws are remade and the districts redrawn the full effect of our votes will start to be evident in the changes to our representation.

Also FYI there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state with unaffiliated voters making up a group higher than Republicans and Libertarians coming in at a low count in fourth place.

[abqtommy]

3. I guess we can only do the best we can... I wish NC the best possible outcome!

[littlemissmartypants]

4. The most annoying part of vote by mail in NC

is that you have to complete and mail in a two page form to request an absentee ballot. This form cannot be emailed but can be downloaded as a PDF and printed out but must be either hand delivered or snail mailed so you can get a so called "absentee" ballot.

Request form PDF: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Forms/NCAbsenteeBallotRequestForm.pdf

More info on absentee ballot voting here:
https://www.ncvoter.org/absentee-ballots/