Following Three Defeats in Federal Court, Adams, Butterfield, and Price Urge the NC General Assembly to Increase Access to the Ballot Box
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) led a letter, signed by Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Congressman David Price (NC-04), to the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Tim Moore and Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger urging them to increase access to the ballot box by establishing an independent redistricting commission and refraining from creating any new voter ID laws that contribute to voter suppression.
"Our General Assembly's voter suppression tactics have been struck down three times by the Supreme Court, casting another dark shadow on our State." said Congresswoman Adams. "Instead of redirecting course and restoring the faith in our electoral system, Republican leadership has pledged to put forth yet another voter ID law. This is shameful. As elected representatives, we have a sacred responsibility to protect the vote. After serving in both the General Assembly and in Congress, I can attest to the need for an independent redistricting commission. My colleagues and I stand united in urging North Carolina lawmakers to work in a bipartisan fashion to create the commission and expand access to the ballot. We can no longer promote a system that allows politicians to choose their voters - that is a power that belongs solely to the people."
"One of the most sacred rights in our country is the right for Americans to vote and have their voices heard," said CongressmanButterfield. "But, sadly, we are in an uphill struggle to make this a reality in North Carolina. The Republican-led General Assembly's continued fishing expedition in search of tactics to suppress the voice of African American voters has been among the most extreme in the nation and it must stop. The General Assembly now has a golden opportunity to restore the public's confidence in our election system by establishing an independent commission for redrawing the state's congressional and legislative maps and putting an end to voter ID laws that fail to protect the voting interest of African American communities."
"At a time when we should be making it easier for all eligible Americans to participate in our democracy, General Assembly Republicans used unconstitutional redistricting and voter ID legislation for political gain," said Congressman Price. "These efforts to suppress the minority vote violate our nation's hard-fought commitment to equal protection and voting rights, and I strongly condemn them. The time has come for Speaker Moore and Senator Berger to put a stop to these shameful tactics and for the state to put in place reforms that will ensure fair elections in North Carolina."
On May 15, 2017, the Supreme Court refused to hear the General Assembly's appeal regarding North Carolina's strict voter ID law; leaving in place the Fourth Circuit's finding that the law was discriminatory. Just one week later the Supreme Court upheld the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision which required the North Carolina General Assembly to redraw congressional districts because they were racially gerrymandered. This week, the Supreme Court affirmed that the North Carolina legislative districts, drawn in 2011, were racially gerrymandered and deferred to the lower court to determine whether a special election will be held.
Please see the letter below.