Senate Democrats Introduce “Freedom to Vote” Act to Prevent Voter Intimidation
Senate Bill 226 would expand early voting hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
By Cash Michaels –
Democratic State Senators Kandie D. Smith (Edgecombe, Pitt), Gladys A. Robinson (Guilford), and Lisa Grafstein (Wake) have introduced a bill in the North Carolina General Assembly that, if passed, would “…increase funding to the state Board of Elections; clarify laws and prohibit voter intimidation; improve voting access and encourage voting by establishing online voter registration; expand early one-stop voting hours on Saturdays and Sundays, and create a nonpartisan process for redistricting regarding certain elections.”
The proposed Freedom to Vote Act (Senate Bill 226) is currently in the Senate Rules and Operations Committee. But it’s not the only measure pending in the NC Legislature that is aimed at changing voting. Saying that their bills are “needed” to help protect the integrity of the vote, Republicans have also introduced legislation.
The Election Day Integrity Act would, if passed, not allow mail-in ballots to be accepted after 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Currently, ballots postmarked by Election Day can be accepted by local county election boards up to the Friday after the election.
Another Republican proposed measure titled the Early Voting Constitutional Amendment, would, if ratified by voters in November 2024, “…provide that voting in person prior to Election Day may occur for a period of seven days and all days shall be consecutive.”
That amendment language for voters to read on November 2024 ballots:
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST (check one)
Constitutional amendment providing that if the General Assembly authorizes voting in person prior to Election Day, the period of time allowing for voting in person prior to Election Day shall be no longer than seven days, all of which shall be consecutive.
Clearly not in favor of the GOP measures, Senator Smith told reporters this bill is designed to target black voters, who are more likely to vote for Democrats.
“Early voting is the most popular period for voting for black and young voters,” Sen. Smith said during a press conference at the legislature last week. “And [this is] being done in the name of election integrity.” After a wry chuckle, Smith added, “There’s no “integrity in that at all.”
