Editorial: Gov. Cooper, veto the voter ID bill

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 -- Gov. Roy Cooper, veto Senate Bill 824. Legislators, sustain that veto. Then work with the State Board of Elections and legislators on a comprehensive approach to drafting voter ID implementation and addressing absentee voting fraud that should include: A review of laws and practices in other states; Public hearings around the state to get citizen views and; thorough input from local elections officials.

Posted 10:00 a.m. Dec 11, 2018 — Updated 10:00 a.m. Dec 11, 2018

CBC Editorial: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018; Editorial #8368

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

There may be some good inside the voter ID bill legislative leaders drafted and six working days later shipped off to the governor for his signature.

But what little might be tucked deep in the legislation doesn’t outweigh the bigger problems that undoubtedly will result from the unnecessary rush job.

Most significant, the last-minute effort to address concerns in absentee ballot fraud offers remedies without any notion of the actual problems. These knee-jerk, half-baked solutions are both premature and, given immediate past experiences, more likely to breed even greater troubles.

It is just another VERY STRONG reason why Gov. Roy Cooper needs to veto this bill and the legislature should uphold it.

What is the rush? How can a law be properly shaped when, at this time, there is no notion of the issue’s scope?

Investigators with the State Board of Elections are in the midst of their inquiry into allegations of improper absentee voting in Bladen County – particularly in the 9th Congressional District election. Journalists from around the nation are combing through balloting records, interviewing voters and talking to campaign operatives. Definitively identifying the problem, much less coming up with appropriate solutions, is a ways off.

Immediate findings will help determine whether alleged irregularities are so egregious as to mandate a new election. The evidence found will be critical to drafting appropriate and effective laws and regulations to address ACTUAL problems and make sure voting is honest and elections are fair.

The unfortunate reality is that the entire voter ID escapade has been a highly partisan effort by Republicans. While it is important that only those who are properly registered cast ballots -- and we support presenting a photo ID at the polling place -- the clear focus of these efforts has been to enshrine in law ways to intimidate some voters while make voting more difficult for others. And remember the description – “with almost surgical precision” -- is how the Court of Appeals put it in the now famous July 2016 decision declaring the initial voter ID law unconstitutional.

As troubling revelations are disclosed it only signals that more needs to be known. Solutions enacted now won’t likely address the problems coming to light.

Gov. Cooper, veto Senate Bill 824. Legislators, sustain that veto.

Then the governor, working with the State Board of Elections and legislators, should work out a comprehensive approach to drafting voter ID implementation and addressing absentee voting fraud. That approach should include: A review of laws and practices in other states; Public hearings around the state to get citizen views and thorough input from local elections officials.

Rather than an act of petty partisanship, the end result would likely be a law enacted with broad bipartisan backing that both assures fair elections and doesn’t infringe on citizens’ right to vote.