Black Mountain – Why do we vote? It is our duty and privilege in the United States. We vote for our future, for our children and our grandchildren. For those who have not yet gotten to the polls the League of Women Voters VOTE411 site (VOTE411.org) has information on how, when, and where to vote; provides information on all the races for your ballot; and allows you to print out your ballot to take with you.
The presidential race gets a lot of attention. But there are many other races on your ballot and we urge everyone to vote the entire ballot. There are 16 races on every ballot in North Carolina including a US House race in all 14 Congressional Districts. At the state level we are voting for: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, and Commissioner of Insurance. There is one race for a North Carolina Supreme Court Justice and three races for Judges for the Court of Appeals. There are elections for all 120 seats in the NC House of Representatives and all 50 Senate seats. Further down the ballot there is more variability with voters in different jurisdictions seeing races at the county level, city level, for school board, and other local bodies. Decisions made by individuals holding all these offices will have a direct impact on your lives, your family, your business, your future.
There is one Constitutional Amendment on every North Carolina voter’s ballot proposed by the Legislature. This states “only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualification for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State.” This is exactly what is already required under North Carolina state law. This Amendment is designed to intimidate voters and undermine the trust in our election system. The LWV North Carolina recommends you vote AGAINST this amendment.
For all three ways to vote (absentee, Early Voting, November 5) you need a valid Voter ID. All voters in WNC qualify to indicate that they are a victim of a natural disaster on the exception form. Absentee ballots (be sure you have completed the form and have appropriate signatures) may be turned in to any county Board of Elections by 7:30 pm on November 5 and will be routed to the correct location. Early Voting ends at 3 pm on November 2; you can vote at any site in your county. On November 5 you must vote at your assigned precinct. If you are in line at 7:30 pm, you must be allowed to vote.
Encourage your friends, neighbors, colleagues, relatives to vote. Think about how you could help someone vote – drive them to the polls, provide a signature for an absentee ballot. Let your children and grandchildren know that you are voting and make it a family tradition. Your vote is your voice – make it heard.
Editor’s Note: Suzanne Fisher is the President of League of Women Voters Asheville-Buncombe County