The problem is that redrawing those two districts would mean redrawing other districts that border the counties involved.
The 1st congressional district, for instance, is in northeastern North Carolina. It meanders for miles through parts of 24 different counties, containing only five whole counties. It includes Durham, Elizabeth City, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro and New Bern.
Parts of the 1st congressional district border the 3rd, which includes Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Walter Jones.
Of course, a major problem with the federal court ruling is that the election is only a month away and it would be impossible to get the district maps redrawn and approved by March 15. Furthermore, absentee voting is already underway.
Gov. Pat McCrory and other state officials asked the federal panel to stay the decision until after the election. On Monday, Feb. 8, the judges refused, so state officials have now appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On Tuesday night, they asked Chief Justice John Roberts to set aside the lower court decision.
On Wednesday, Roberts responded, giving plaintiffs in the case until next Tuesday, Feb. 16, to respond to the state’s request.
Meanwhile, the March 15 election is in turmoil. The governor may be forced to call a special session of the legislature next week to redraw district lines. Or the state may be forced to move the congressional primary only.
This mess is not unprecedented. Similar fights over district boundaries caused delays in elections in 1998 and 2002.
And just a word about “gerrymandering” — manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party or another.
Both Republicans and Democrats do it. They manipulate not only congressional boundaries, but also state legislative districts. Apparently, it’s okay with the courts if elected official do it for political reasons but it is unconstitutional to gerrymander districts on racial grounds.
In most states, the legislature has control over drawing district boundaries, which usually means that the party in power gets the advantage. Only a few states have non-partisan commissions to draw boundaries.
Of course, none of us should miss a chance to vote, but this year’s primary will be important for a few reasons that include:
- Casting a ballot for candidates for President, as well as state and local offices.
- Non-partisan Board of Education races that will be decided on March 15.
- On the ballot will be a $2 billion bond initiative, sought by the governor, that will provide funds for the University of North Carolina system, community colleges, infrastructure such as water and sewer systems, state parks and zoos, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Public Safety.
- The first in North Carolina in which voters will have to produce identification to cast a ballot.
Here’s some more information on selected topics you need to know, since most probably all or part of the primary will happen on March 15.
VOTER ID
The North Carolina law that makes changes to elections laws, including requiring identification, is being challenged in the courts. However, beginning March 15, voters will have to produce an ID with a photo while the case makes its way through the judicial system.
Acceptable forms of voter identification include:
- N.C. driver’s license or permit (may be expired up to four years).
- N.C. identification card (may be expired up to four years).
- U.S. passport or passport card (unexpired).
- Military identification card (unexpired, if there is an expiration date).
- Veteran’s identification card (unexpired, if there is an expiration date).
- Certain tribal enrollment cards.
If you do not have one of the forms of ID that is listed as acceptable, you can get a free identification card from the Division of Motor Vehicles.
To get the free DMV card you will need two documents that prove your age and identity, such as birth certificates, court documents, or tax forms; one document to prove North Carolina residency, such as a lease, voter registration card, or utility bill, and your Social Security number.
Voters who are unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID because of a “reasonable impediment” may still vote a provisional ballot at the polls. The state Board of Elections say “reasonable impediment includes lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness, or disability.”
If you claim a reasonable impediment, you must complete and sign a declaration form and provide one of several alternative forms of identification.
More information, including pictures of acceptable identification, a video on the new photo ID law, and reasonable impediments is available at http://voterid.nc.gov/.
You do not have to produce a photo ID to vote by absentee ballot.
REGISTERING TO VOTE
If you are not registered to vote, you must register by Friday, Feb. 19, to vote in the March primary.
If you are not registered by Friday, Feb. 19, you can register during one-stop early voting. You will be required to provide photo identification.
You can also change your party affiliation, name, or address by completing a registration application by Feb. 19
Voters who are registered unaffiliated may vote in the primary. Unaffiliated voters will be given a choice of ballots at the polls — Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican.
ABSENTEE VOTING
All residents who are registered to vote may cast an absentee ballot. Requests must be made on an N.C. Board of Elections request form, which is available on the state board’s website or from the Dare or Hyde county Board of Elections website.
Requests for ballots must be made by March 8 and completed absentee ballot must be returned to the county Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on March 14 or postmarked no later than March 15.
As already noted, you don’t have to produce a photo ID for absentee voting.
ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING
Both Dare and Hyde will have one-stop early voting.
Dare County
Dare County Administration Building. 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. March 3 and 4 and March 7-11. Also on Saturday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Fessenden Center, Baum Center, and Pitts Center. 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. March 3 and 4 and March 7-11.
Hyde County
Testing kitchen adjacent to Board of Elections Office in Swan Quarter. 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on March 3 and 4, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. March 7-10. 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on March 11, and 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on March 12.
Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
ELECTION DAY VOTING
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
N.C. redistricting fights heads to U.S. Supreme Court
Federal court invalidates maps of two NC congressional districts
N.C. Board of Election information on Voter ID: http://voterid.nc.gov/
N.C. Board of Elections: http://www.ncsbe.gov/
Hyde County Board of Elections: http://www.hydecountync.gov/departments/elections_office.php
Dare County Board of Elections: http://www.darenc.com/boe/
Hyde County sample ballots by party: ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/data/SampleBallots/2016-03-15/HYDE/
Dare County sample ballots by party: ftp://alt.ncsbe.gov/data/SampleBallots/2016-03-15/DARE/
$2 billion Connect NC bond proposal information: http://connect.nc.gov/
