N.C. House passes HAVA legislation; hearings on HAVA plan set

The North Carolina House of Representative, by a 109-1 vote, passed the implementing legislation for HAVA (House Bill 842) on Tuesday afternoon, April 22.

There was an attempt to add identification requirements when people vote, but this was turned aside in a compromise that added a provision requiring voters to sign the pollbook, something some counties now require but state law does not.

That amendment is NOT in the version on the website yet, but otherwise you can see the legislation at: General Assembly of North Carolina Website.

The bill now goes to the state Senate where some amendments related to the use of voter and drivers license databases for jury duty lists may be added. No real opposition is foreseen in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the final meeting of the HAVA planning committee is slated for May 2. The plan should be posted on the Board of Elections website at least by that day.

Six public hearings will be held on the plan, all on the same day, May 16 from 10 am to noon.

The location is posted on the State Board of Election's web site above.

In other news, NC Fair Share, Democracy North Carolina and a number of other groups are pushing legislation to establish same-day registration, at least during the early voting period, when people can go to designated sites in the county and vote a "no-excuse absentee ballot." But there is stiff opposition from many quarters to this bill -- as well as some healthy bipartisan support. It's a major uphill fight, to say the least.

Here's where the HAVA hearings are taking place, May 16, from 10 am to noon:

ASHEVILLE, N.C. County Commissioners' Room (Room 204) , Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Plaza.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Mecklenburg County Board of Elections Office, Suite 202, 741 Kenliworth Ave.

GREENVILLE, N.C. City Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

RALEIGH, N.C. State Board of Elections Office, 506 North Harrington St.

WILMINGTON, N.C. County Commissioners' Room (room 301), New Hanover Historical Courthouse, 24 North 3rd Street.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Courtroom 6B, Forsyth County Hall of Justice, 200 N. Main Street.

Call the State Board of Elections at 919-733-7173 for more information.

Member Benefits | About AAPD | Join | Disability Resources | News | Contact Us | Calendar | Home