We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal.
These words from the Declaration of Independence form the basis of our representative republic. If I was to say today that only some people should be allowed to vote in our elections based on some criterion, I would be censored. The law of one vote for one man or woman is the centerpiece of the electoral process for the country.
The argument we face today is simple: we want voter ID to stop voter fraud. Whenever someone votes more than one time or is not qualified to vote, our legal vote is diluted or nullified. The Republican party gave us a 100 day pledge last year to the people of North Carolina to pass Voter ID legislation. The 100th day was May 6th, 2011.
The protests against secure voting in our state are being led by people who want to gain and hold power at any cost.
“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”
Thomas Jefferson
This is even worse when the other forty-nine take away the rights of the fifty-one through voter fraud: This is what today’s Democracy looks like.
Our original 1776 state constitution had several conditions placed on voting which depended on the type of election:
7. That all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and possessed of a freehold, within the same county, of fifty acres of land, for six months next before, and at the day of election, shall be entitled to vote for a member of the senate.
8. That all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and shall have paid public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for members of the ho use of commons, for the county in which he resides.
9. That all persons possessed of a freehold, in any town in this State, having a right of representation, and also all freemen, who have been inhabitants of any such town twelve months next before, and at the day of election, and shall have paid public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for a member to represent such town in the house of commons: provided, always, that this section shall not entitle any inhabitant of such town to vote for members of the house of commons for the county in which he may reside: nor any freeholder in such county, who resides without or beyond the limits of such town, to vote for a member of the said town.
Although these limitations gave voting privileges to individuals who paid taxes and were freemen, any limitations placed on voting today would be met with charges of racism. Let us never forget the basis of our nation: all men are created equal. Since we are only asking for one vote per man or woman, there can be no credible argument against this principle. However, the politicians and voices against this principle seem to have the power in our state to continue this practice of voter fraud.
At some point, we have to ask ourselves when will we stop begging for our rights instead of asserting them. At some point, we will have to acknowledge that the Republican party will not fulfill their pledge in any time frame.
David DeGerolamo
The 1776 rules for franchise were created to establish “standing” in the community and ensure those who voted had assets at risk against inappropriate government policy.
For several years, I have proposed a different “hurdle” for access to the ballot:
1. you must be living free from debt (of any kind)
2. you must not be a recipient of government support (of any kind)
People who satisfy these two criteria would be unlikely to drive legislation injurious to the life, liberty, and happiness of their neighbors.