While NC Board of Elections says “Nay,” NAACP says “Yay”
You don’t need an ID to vote in the 2014 election, but the State Board of Elections has begun offering free voter IDs in preparation for laws taking effect in 2016.
House Bill 589 will require all North Carolina voters to show picture identification to vote beginning in 2016.
After losing every piece of identification she owned during a robbery, Jasmine Bryant (right) waits for her new NC driver’s license with her friend Cherell Anderson (left). Neither girl had heard that they had the chance to acquire a free voter ID. (Staff Photo by Jessica Coates)
“We don’t want to confuse people,” said State Board of Elections Public Information Officer Josh Lawson. “That’s why we’ve held off on billboards so far.”
The lack of advertising is making some community leaders anxious, though.
“Right now, voter registration is our top priority,” said Durham NAACP Executive Director Vivian Timlic. “Right now is when the IDs are free, so we want everyone to be able to take advantage of that,” she added.
The Durham NAACP has been doing their own form of advertising in neighborhoods around the city by setting up voter registration tables with free food and music, said Timlic.
“We have a team of about 14 people going to different neighborhoods, knocking on doors,” said Timlic. “They tell people, ‘Even if you think you’re registered, just come over and let us ask you a few questions.’ We just want to make sure we get everyone represented.”
According to DMV statistics, fewer than 500 people have applied for free voter IDs thus far. But Lawson expects that to change as 2016 approaches.
“We’ve hired a team of about seven folks for our public education campaign, which we’ll start after November’s elections,” said Lawson. “And if someone doesn’t have proper ID for the upcoming election, they have the option to just sign a waiver acknowledging their lack of identification. From there, we’ll be able to send tips to those specific individuals who need to get an ID for the 2016 election.”
For now, though, information about House Bill 589 and free voter IDs may not be well-known to the public.
“You’re the first person that’s told me about it,” said O’Mard Alexander, who was waiting in line at the South Roxboro DMV on September 12.
Linda Jobe, who was also in the DMV, added, “I didn’t know the laws had changed. I figure if you stand in line to vote, you are who you say you are.”
But as time passes, more and more will be done to inform citizens, said Lawson.
“We’ll be having our next voter registration on September 23 at Hillside High from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,” said Timlic. “And we’ll be having one every Monday at different Durham County public schools.”
Timlic also said that until October 10, the last day for registration for the November 4 election, this would be their “highest priority.”
Lawson expressed similar sentiments, though his thoughts were more set on the 2016 elections.
“It’s really important to those members that passed House Bill 589 that this no-cost option is available to voters,” said Lawson.
And although fewer than 291,000 North Carolina citizens are predicted to need the service of free voter IDs, Lawson says it’s “absolutely necessary” that those citizens don’t lose their chance to participate in the democratic process.
For more information on House Bill 589:
http://www.wral.com/election-changes-coming-in-2014-2016/12750290/
For more information on what qualifies as a Voter ID:
http://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Voter-Id
For more information on how and where to get a free ID:
http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/id/