On October 1, the Fourth Circuit, by a 2-1 vote, ordered North Carolina to restore election-day registration. The majority noted that in past recent elections, African-American voters were substantially more likely to make use of election-day registration than other voters. Here is the decision, which also requires the state to continue to let provisional voters submit their ballots in precincts in which they do not live.
The decision is League of Women Voters of N.C. v State, 14-1845. The lower court had refused to enjoin any of the challenged provisions. This case arose in 2013, after the legislature cut back on various means by which some voters vote.
The panel did not require the state to restore early voting. The difference between what the state was ordered to do, and what it was not required to do, is that the former seemed to the majority to be more important at this stage in the election.
The dissenter, Diana Gribbons Motz, felt it is a hardship on the state to change anything at this point. She quoted from her own opinion in Pisano v Strach, issued a few months ago, in which the Fourth Circuit refused to strike down North Carolina’s May petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
I have mixed feelings about “Same Day Registration.” To me, if someone is really interested in supporting a certain candidate or a certain issue, one would think they would have already taken care of their need to be a registered voter. At the same time, I can see where, for example, a certain candidate appears to be leading in the polls, then at the last week people learn something about the candidate, which then allows the opposition candidate(s) to do a last minute rounding up of new voters to make sure the leading candidate is defeated.
I know my last sentence may be contradictory, but I can see some good in “Same Day Registration” and I can see how it could be abused.
The communist Donkeys and fascist Elephants are trying to rig the system to have PERMANENT control — i.e. FOREVER.
See the stuff leading up to the horrific 1936-1939 Spanish Civil WAR or even the super horrific 1861-1865 Civil WAR in the USA.
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.