Public Policy Positions

NC Representatives and Senators

Asheville’s Advocacy & Public Policy Committee

August A/PP Committee Meeting: The committee met for the first time in-person in more than a year.  We were pleased that three new potential members attended (Suzie Crook, Mimi Sexton and Kathy Wienberg), as well as Mary Ellen Lewis, Co-President, AAUW AVL. The five focus topics covered were:

Voting Rights (Linda Stover; lindalstover@gmail.com)

ERA (Roberta Madden; robertamadden@ratifyera-nc.org)

Early Childhood Education                                                                (Kitty Schaller; kittyschaller@gmail.com)

Leandro Decision (Pat Ashe; paashe1950@gmail.com)

Medicaid Expansion (Kitty Schaller; kittyschaller@gmail.com)

If you would like information on any of these topics, please contact the person noted for each.

VOTER PHOTO ID IS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL NC ELECTIONS

The November 7, 2023, Municipal Elections for Weaverville & Woodfin Town Council, and the Woodfin Sanitary Water & Sewer District will require a Voter Photo ID.  If you are voting in person, you will need to show your Photo ID at time of voting; if you are voting by Absentee Ballot, you will need to make a copy of your Photo ID and include it with your mail-in ballot.

What Photo ID is Approved? (must be unexpired or expired for one year or less):

  • North Carolina Driver’s License
  • U. S. Passport/U.S. Passport Card
  • State ID (non-operator ID) from NCDMV
  • NC Voter Photo ID Card, issued by a county board of elections
  • College/university student ID approved by NCSBE (currently in Buncombe County both UNC-Asheville and Warren Wilson are approved. Additional locations may be approved later.)
  • Charter school employee ID approved by NCSBE
  • State/local government employee ID approved by NCSBE
  • Driver’s license/non-driver ID from another state, D.C. or U. S. territory
  • Military or veteran ID card issued by the U. S. government
  • Tribal enrollment card issued by a state or federally recognized tribe
  • ID card issued by a U.S. government agency or the state of NC for a public assistance program 

    FAQ’s:

    How can I get a Photo ID?

    Answer:  1) Buncombe County Board of Elections offers free Voter Photo ID’s, Monday-Friday 8:00 – 5:00, 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville 28801.  Person required to be registered in Buncombe County, provide name, and picture will be taken, and an ID will be made while you wait.  Call BC Board of Elections (828-250-4200, Extension O) if questions.  2) You can also obtain a non-driving Voter Photo ID from Buncombe County DMV office; must make appointment in advance.

    If I don’t have a Voter Photo ID, can I still vote?

    Answer:  Yes, you can fill out a “Photo ID Exception Form” and if approved, your vote will be counted.  Link to  an example of a Photo ID Exception Form here .

    Consider attending our next AAUW A/PP Committee Meeting via Zoom on October 11th @ 11:30 am.  All are  welcome.   Contact Linda Stover for information and/or to register for the meeting (lindalstover@gmail.com,             704-905-6530).

Voting Rights:  Our work on this issue played out last month with the CALL TO ACTION to prepare us to Vote in the upcoming Primary.  If you need a reminder of Linda Stover’s info-packed ACTION email, find it front-and-center on the AAUW Asheville website – thanks to Molly Keeney. We welcomed Ron Katz at the March 22 Branch Meeting who coached us for the election season, offering a look back at the tumultuous time of redistricting that was settled in early March.  With war raging over freedom in Ukraine, surely now we are compelled like never before to use our right to vote, with gratitude for our very democracy.

Early Childhood Education (Buncombe County):  We offer an update on this strategic priority that our County Board of Commissioners created in 2018.  They pledged $3.6 million in FY 2020 to assist child care/education centers, and committed to an increase of 2% per year going forward.  For FY 2023, grants will total over $3.8 million for teacher training and compensation, equity and inclusion measures, new building construction, and other priorities that expand slots for more children in 0 to 5 early education.  Dogwood Trust has stepped up with important funding across WNC, too.  Much more must also be done at the state to level the playing field across NC.

ERA:  To our dismay, there is little progress to report, as the wheels of the federal government work through a process that we fervently hope will result in the fully ratified proposed amendment being included in The Constitution.  Watch this space!

 

NC State Legislation Voting Rights Updates 

NC Redistricting

The NC General Assembly is working on redistricting which will include an additional congressional district.  The process could be completed by the end of October.  If you would like more information on the redistricting process, listen to Blue Ridge Radio’s Matt Buss’ 8 minutes interview with Western Carolina University Dr. Chris Cooper HERE  https://www.bpr.org/post/wnc-politics-roundup-dont-overreact-maps-you-see-now?fbclid=IwAR2_tm2-kph61go7X0dNW-99SLv7_t46j7Duv8I0Oe7qKHjpQRJ1k49x6LQ#stream/1             The Princeton Gerrymandering Project rates preliminary redistricting maps by state;  to view ratings on NC preliminary maps,  go HERE https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/redistricting-report-card/  and click on NC. Contact your representatives and let them know you want fair and nonpartisan   redistricting.

Voter ID Law S.B. 824

The Wake County Superior Court struck down S.B. 824 finding that the law was passed with the partial intent to discriminate against African American voters.  The court held that S.B. 824, which provides a narrow list of qualifying photo IDs acceptable for voting, violates the NC Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.   It is expected that House Speaker Moore will appeal the ruling.

HB 805, Anti-Protestor Legislation Vetoed

HB 805 which would have imposed harsh penalties for protestors calling for racial justice and for people engaged in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience, and put them at risk of being detained for an extended period of time or imprisoned for property damage they did not cause.  In vetoing the bill,

Governor Cooper stated:  “People who commit crimes during riots and at other times should be prosecuted and our laws provide for that, but this legislation is unnecessary and is intended to intimidate and deter people from exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully protest.”

Find your local Legislators   https://www.nc.gov/services/find-your-legislators  and let them know how they are representing your interests.

Federal Voting Rights Legislation Updates

The Freedom To Vote Act S. 2747

This alternative voting rights bill introduced by Senator Manchin and others to replace For The People Act S. 1, is under consideration in the Senate.  Major tenants of this legislation are:

Automatic voter registration At least 15 days of early in-person voting

No-excuse mail voting           Make Election Day a public holiday

Mandate nonpartisan redistricting Uniform & expanded standards for voter ID options

Count provisional ballots cast in a county regardless of the specific county precinct

Provide a statutory right to vote prohibiting states from enacting laws restricting voting

On Wednesday, October 20, S. 2747 came before the Senate in a Cloture Vote to proceed with debate on the proposed bill.  It takes 60 votes to proceed to debate.  Strictly along party lines, the Cloture Vote was rejected.  As the recent AAUW Asheville Branch “Call To Action” stated, a filibuster carve-out for voting rights legislation is necessary to pass Federal voting rights legislation.  We urge you to review the “Call To Action” emailed to you on August 30, sent by Lynette Miller with subject line “AAUW Asheville Branch CALL TO ACTION – Time is of the Essence” and make the suggested contacts.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, S. 4

This proposed legislation would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, certain portions of which were struck down by two United States Supreme Court decisions of Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee.  This legislation has passed the U. S. House and referred to the Senate for a vote.

Tell your U. S. Senators how you feel about their lack of support for voting rights legislation:

Senator Richard Burr (202) 224-3154 https://www.burr.senate.gov/

Senator Thom Tillis (202) 224-6342 https:/www.tillis.senate.gov

Thank you for advocating for our voting rights – Linda Stover