same-day registration

This week, the Republicans in Raleigh are trying to push through myriad bad bills that drastically change voting in North Carolina. H452 (Repeal Public Financing), H351 (Voter ID), and S411 (Elect Pat McCrory) are all in committee or in session today. There is pressure on legislators to have bills pass at least one of the two houses before the crossover deadline - so a whirlwind of bills will come before legislators this week. Many of these bills adversely affect young, disabled, minority, and elderly voters.

Last week, in anticipation of the crossover deadline (this Thursday, June 7), YDNC President Sam Spencer and Legislative Director Doug Jackson addressed extreme changes to North Carolina voting laws during our press conference at the General Assembly (Sam's comments on voting start at 8:20).

The Young Democrats of North Carolina (YDNC) will gather in at the General Assembly today to ask legislators to maintain North Carolina’s investment in public education. The YDNC Legislative Action Day will begin at 8:15 a.m. in Room 422 of the Legislative Office Building, and involve meetings with legislators and a 11:30 press conference.

If you can't make it in person, please join us on your social networking platforms to get the word out. Supporters of YDNC can ReTweet the Young Democrats on Twitter (@YDNC) and submit questions by using the hashtag #AskNCGA (obviously, you're welcome to throw a #BlueNC in there as well). You can also follow our President (@choosesam) and our Publicity and Newsletter Chair (@jpresident) for additional updates.

For more information, see our earlier post.

The Young Democrats of North Carolina (YDNC) will gather in Raleigh on Thursday, June 2 to ask the General Assembly to maintain North Carolina’s investment in public education. The YDNC Legislative Action Day will begin at 8:15 a.m. in Room 422 of the Legislative Office Building. Click Here to Join Us!

YDNC President Sam Spencer sees the event as an opportunity for regular North Carolinians of all ages to speak out and defend the institutions that make North Carolina great:

“False austerity is no excuse for infringing upon the rights guaranteed by the North Carolina Constitution: the 'privilege of education,' 'free elections,' equality, and 'the pursuit of happiness,’” said Spencer. “The Republicans in the North Carolina House and Senate should recognize that North Carolina’s priorities – education and job creation – didn’t change when they took control of the General Assembly.”

TrueMeckDem posted a Char-O article about the surge in voter registrations across NC. There is a similar article in today's N&O. The money quote of this one is from Bob Hall, Director of democracy-NC:

"The only way not to have long lines is to increase early voting sites."

I've been out registering new voters and helping voters register at their current addresses a few times over the last month. It is a truly wonderful experience. And it's the easiest dang thing I've ever done.

This is an important, if simple, post. Something strange is going on with the Registration and Voting at One-Stop Sites Bill (HB 91) and we need to stop it. If you can swing it, please come to the legislature at 12:30 tomorrow. I'll be there, outside of General Assembly Room 1027 with a cadre of committed Young Democrats.

Google Maps

Thanks to everybody who called or e-mailed, both at BlueNC and on my e-mail list. Jerry has affirmed his position in favor of H91/S195, so the crisis has been averted. They got the message due in no small part to your lobbying, and it's a good bet that S195 will pass now that the NCDP is behind it again. This is a major legislative victory for the NCYD, and YDs across the state, including the new leadership that will be sworn in at JJ, thank you for your efforts.

So where do we go from here?

From the AP Wire -

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More young people in North Carolina engaged in binge drinking than voted during recent presidential elections, according to a report released Monday by a campaign reform group.

Lovely! Aside from reports of a few impressionable Tar Heels walking into a certain campaign office south of their university, my generation isn't getting involved in politics. This doesn't bode well for North Carolina.

About 29 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 voted in a major election in 2000 and 2004. That compares to the 37 percent of people aged 18 to 25 identified as "binge drinkers" in a 2004 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report. The report classified binge drinkers as individuals who had at least five drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days.