NC House seeks to soften voter ID bill
Thank you for taking the time to contact Speaker Tillis’ Office. Even though you are receiving a response on behalf of Speaker Tillis, I will share your concern regarding HB 351. I’ve been asked to share the following message from Speaker Tillis with you regarding this important issue.
We have the opportunity to pass a voter ID law that will require voters to present a government issued photo ID. A compromise bill would likely require a voter to do the following:
Present one or more items (e.g. a utility bill, bank statement, etc.), AND Sign a formal attestation swearing you are who you say you are subject to criminal penalty for fraud, AND Submit a provisional ballot subject to Board of Elections Review, AND Wait until the signature on the attestation is CONFIRMED with the signature of the person who originally signed the voter registration. This is better than no ID at all, which is the status quo.
We have not been able to get support from Democrats to override the veto with the bill in its original form. Unfortunately, the NC House is four votes short of a veto-proof majority, so we need four Democrats to vote with us. We have not been able to override the current/preferred bill. Therefore, the choice is NO VOTER ID requirements at all, or gaining some ground with a compromise bill.
Here is my question to you: Would you prefer to have the bill that we all would prefer that will likely not be passed, or would the compromise be a good first step? Personally, I feel that a hefty percentage of something is far better than 100% of nothing.
Again, thank you for contacting Speaker Tillis’ office on this important issue. We are rapidly approaching one of the most important elections in history; a voter ID bill will be a step in the right direction to ensure your vote is protected and the integrity of the voting process is secure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Best Regards,
Phillip Christofferson
Constituent Services
Office of the Speaker
North Carolina General Assembly
(919) 733-3451
We have the opportunity to pass a voter ID law that will require voters to present a government issued photo ID. A compromise bill would likely require a voter to do the following:
Present one or more items (e.g. a utility bill, bank statement, etc.), AND Sign a formal attestation swearing you are who you say you are subject to criminal penalty for fraud, AND Submit a provisional ballot subject to Board of Elections Review, AND Wait until the signature on the attestation is CONFIRMED with the signature of the person who originally signed the voter registration. This is better than no ID at all, which is the status quo.
We have not been able to get support from Democrats to override the veto with the bill in its original form. Unfortunately, the NC House is four votes short of a veto-proof majority, so we need four Democrats to vote with us. We have not been able to override the current/preferred bill. Therefore, the choice is NO VOTER ID requirements at all, or gaining some ground with a compromise bill.
Here is my question to you: Would you prefer to have the bill that we all would prefer that will likely not be passed, or would the compromise be a good first step? Personally, I feel that a hefty percentage of something is far better than 100% of nothing.
Again, thank you for contacting Speaker Tillis’ office on this important issue. We are rapidly approaching one of the most important elections in history; a voter ID bill will be a step in the right direction to ensure your vote is protected and the integrity of the voting process is secure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Best Regards,
Phillip Christofferson
Constituent Services
Office of the Speaker
North Carolina General Assembly
(919) 733-3451
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