By Steve Odom
Guest Columnist
Having previously served on the Board of Elections and being involved in politics most of my life, I’ve never witnessed voter suppression in our county.
In fact, it’s just the opposite: the Graham County Board of Elections does a fantastic job.
* During one-stop: Citizens are given the opportunity to vote this year with extended hours. It’s held for 15 days (including Saturdays) for voter convenience.
* Absentee request: Can now be requested in our state – with no excuse – and are at an all-time high this year. They go through a strict verification process. They’re safe, reliable and a good option for voting.
* On election day: The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., that’s 13 hours to vote. If there is any problem with a voter’s registration, they can vote a provisional ballot. Once the voter is confirmed legitimate by the Board of Elections, the ballot is then counted.
We vote in precincts on election day because organization and accountability mean something in fair and free elections. The Board of Elections’ purge the voter rolls every year, to make sure dead people aren’t somehow voting; to clear the names of those who’ve moved away to ensure the integrity of our elections.
As for the national conversation around mail in ballots and the postal service, that is another topic all together. Local postal workers provide a good service to our communities. It’s the national bureaucracy that needs overhauling; as our President has done with so many other Federal agencies, he’s put new leadership in place. A new Postmaster General was appointed on June 15, 2020 and he is working hard to overhaul the agency which has seen decades of failures and mismanagement.
The issues of voting by mail revolves around solicited and unsolicited ballots.
North Carolina absentee ballots must be requested by the voter or a near relative to be mailed out by the local Board of Elections. Once received and voted, they must be witnessed and mailed back to the Board of Elections, who confirms the ballots legitimacy before accepting and counting. Most importantly, the voter cannot then vote a second time, as they are in the system as having submitted an absentee.
It’s called Checks and Balances!
Mail-in ballots – as proposed in other states – are sent to all registered voters, whether they requested one or not. There is no way of verifying that the ballot gets into the hands of the actual voter. Are they still alive? Have they moved? Who filled out the ballot? Right address? Who mailed it back? If counted, is it legitimate?
This is not a proper way to run an election. Makes one wonder, why now? Why this election?
I really hope last week’s columnist (“Voter oppression is alive and well,” Aug. 27) hasn’t discouraged legitimate voters from casting a ballot. While our system isn’t perfect, it’s the best in the world. Let’s keep our elections safe, secure, and above all legal. Let’s honor those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.
Vote for the candidate of your choice, it’s your duty and your right!
The writer is chair of the Graham County Republican Party.