Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 23:26:19 -0400
From: Randolph Voller
Subject: The CCDP Supports Open Access to Voting and Hassle Free Elections in Chatham County
Early voting and the access of voters to open and hassle free elections is of paramount importance. We all benefit when our elections involve the greatest numbers of citizens. Unfortunately, the North Carolina State Senate has a bill before it ** that will restrict as opposed to expand democracy in North Carolina. The bill, (S-657http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Y1ey3ikSWPxU6yhybiSvM2A6Slxsi799)
will eliminate Same-Day Registration, youth pre-registration, slice a week off of Early Voting, end Sunday voting, and require other changes that will make it much harder for millions of NC citizens to vote.
Why? Some believe that a two week period is more than enough time to vote; however, the issue at hand is not simply allowing for just two weeks of early voting, but rather part one of a series of measures apparently intended to make voting more of a hassle for everyone and discourage participation in the process by all citizens.
The Chatham County Democratic Party (CCDP) believes that regardless of ideology we should all favor community building and robust civic participation. In order to enhance our community, the basic building blocks of democracy in Chatham County need to be accessible and free from duress. To argue otherwise is to admit that we want less participation instead of more participation and that we fear democracy instead of embracing it.
Our community should oppose this bill (S-657http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Y1ey3ikSWPxU6yhybiSvM2A6Slxsi799) and request that our county commissioners step up and do the same on our behalf—a position that will serve the interests of all citizens in Chatham County and not just the few who favor less democracy over more democracy.
*
Progressive values are not the opposite of conservative values, in fact they
are frequently complementary. Think of Theodore Roosevelt or Harry Truman.
Both complicated leaders who had progressive and conservative streaks.
**
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they
oppress.” *Frederick Douglass