Thread: NC: Stiffer Voter Registration Requirements Sought

http://www.nbc17.com/news/8892095/detail.html

Stiffer Voter Registration Requirements Sought

POSTED: 7:18 pm EDT April 21, 2006
UPDATED: 8:07 pm EDT April 21, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina needs to strengthen its voter application process to prevent illegal immigrants from registering, a conservative political group says.

The state's Spanish-language voter registration form doesn't require applicants to provide identification, only a utility bill or other proof of address. If a person doesn't have an address, they're allowed to draw dots on the registration form to show what structures are on the block where they live.

"Clearly, a utility bill or a rental bill is not proof of citizenship. It proves you have electricity or somewhere to live," said Thomas Stith, a Durham City Council member and vice president of the Civitas Institute. "The concern from the citizens of North Carolina is (the right to vote is) being compromised."

Early voting is underway statewide for the May 2 primary. Cherie Poucher, the director of the Wake County Board of Elections, said local elections officials aren't aware of any problems with the Spanish-language voting forms, but she said there's no way to tell if an illegal immigrant registers.

Don Wright, the attorney for the State Board of Elections, said federal law requires North Carolina to provide voting registration forms and instructions in Spanish. Ballots are in English only, however.

"When the Voting Rights Act was passed, they had provisions that protected minority-language persons," Wright said. "You've got to get to the deeper question -- if you're demanding people to prove they’re citizens, how do you do it?"

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.nbc17.com/news/8892095/detail.html

Stiffer Voter Registration Requirements Sought

POSTED: 7:18 pm EDT April 21, 2006
UPDATED: 8:07 pm EDT April 21, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina needs to strengthen its voter application process to prevent illegal immigrants from registering, a conservative political group says.

The state's Spanish-language voter registration form doesn't require applicants to provide identification, only a utility bill or other proof of address. If a person doesn't have an address, they're allowed to draw dots on the registration form to show what structures are on the block where they live.

"Clearly, a utility bill or a rental bill is not proof of citizenship. It proves you have electricity or somewhere to live," said Thomas Stith, a Durham City Council member and vice president of the Civitas Institute. "The concern from the citizens of North Carolina is (the right to vote is) being compromised."

Early voting is underway statewide for the May 2 primary. Cherie Poucher, the director of the Wake County Board of Elections, said local elections officials aren't aware of any problems with the Spanish-language voting forms, but she said there's no way to tell if an illegal immigrant registers.

Don Wright, the attorney for the State Board of Elections, said federal law requires North Carolina to provide voting registration forms and instructions in Spanish. Ballots are in English only, however.

"When the Voting Rights Act was passed, they had provisions that protected minority-language persons," Wright said. "You've got to get to the deeper question -- if you're demanding people to prove they’re citizens, how do you do it?"

You can start by making sure their social security number is not that of a "Dead Man/Women"