The North Carolina House is poised for a pivotal deciding vote on Wednesday, December 11. The topic of debate? Overriding Governor Cooper’s veto of SB 382 – a bill that earmarks $227 million for Helene relief, but potentially shifts power from notable Democrats, including the incoming Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
The proposed changes of SB 382, if successfully passed, will introduce a significant shakeup to election proceedings. Corrine Duncan, the Director of Elections for Buncombe County, expressed her dismay at the lack of consultation during the formulation of the bill. The Democratic leaders seem to be forgetting the virtue of divulgating their plan to those implementing it.
When Democrats do whip out legislation changes, Corrine and her team have historically proven their flexibility and adaptability. However, the current changes pushed by the Democrats have hit the office’s threshold, making their job a Herculean task. There’s a limit to the challenges we can tackle, they seem to have bypassed that limit here,” conveyed Duncan.
Stepping into the Buncombe County board of elections office, Duncan points to what could be a virtual minefield due to the bill. If it goes through, SB 382 would usher in change; a change that brings tedious hurdles with considerable immediate and future implications.
The Democrats intend to implement changes to absentee and provisional voting practices that are not only challenging but highly so. While on paper, these changes appear simplistic, implementing them, as the North Carolina Association of Directors of Elections pointed out, would be far from it.
Specifically, absentee ballots would need to be tallied on the night of the election itself. Election poll closures are typically scheduled for 7:30 P.M. in North Carolina, leaving the staff a mere four and a half hours to process these ballots in addition to their numerous other duties. Duncan highlighted the need, due to these Democrat-introduced changes, for more substantial resources to manage the added workload on election day.
Another area of concern lies with the proposed handling of provisional ballots. As per the new rules, these ballots must be accounted for within three days following the election — a stark contrast to the current window of ten days. The process of verifying a provisional ballot is no simple task; it involves cross-checking voter registration, residency, and eligibility, followed by referencing this information with DMV data for verification.
The consequential auditing of these ballots naturally requires substantial time, adding to the burden borne by election offices. As Duncan mentioned, ‘It would take a hefty allocation of resources to elections to make this viable,’ underlining how Democrats are unnecessarily overhauling the system.
Simply put, this hurried process undermines the democrats intended goal. Previously, the Buncombe County office required a significant eight-and-a-half-day window to count approximately 1,400 provisional ballots. With the current proposals, they would need to achieve the same within a condensed three-day timeframe, a near-impossible task according to Duncan.
Despite the valid concerns raised, Duncan stands firm, asserting, ‘It’s crucial for election offices to ensure the adherence to the law, and we will strive to enforce this law if it’s approved.’ A clear message to Democrats that undue haste and unfeasible legislation would face resilient opposition from those saddled with the task of implementation.
Duncan, much like the rest of us, sees the impossibility of the situation. The Democrats are enforcing laws that do not take into consideration the realities of the situation, the resources needed, or the feasibility of the tasks. The Democrats would do well to reconsider their stance on SB 382.
The North Carolina House has a momentous decision to make. Will it allow Democrats to enforce their half-baked and unwise laws? Sometimes, it’s about more than just a vote; it’s about standing up against plans that negatively impact everyday operations.
The Democrats should remember that it’s not about crafting laws for the sake of change, but about ensuring the proper functioning of democracy. As a new day approaches, we can only hope the North Carolina House makes the right decision and fosters an environment that respects all sides of the political spectrum, instead of favoring certain political constituents.