|
|||||||||
|
I rarely write with such urgency, but what is happening in North Carolina right now should alarm every American who believes in democracy and the rule of law. Late last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued an outrageous ruling throwing out legally cast ballots from overseas voters and specifically targeting military members from Democratic counties. This ruling requires them to once again prove their identities within a narrow 30-day window to ensure the votes they cast in November are counted. Let me be absolutely clear: This enables a naked attempt to steal an election. And we must all come together to reject these kinds of blatant attacks on our democracy. As a former Attorney General who made protecting voting rights a top priority at the Justice Department, I am appalled to see the judiciary abandon its most fundamental responsibility — protecting the rights of the people. Too many members of the Republican majority on North Carolina's highest court cherry-picked whose votes count based purely on partisan calculations. It is the height of political arrogance to tell military members who serve and sacrifice for our country, and other voters, that their votes and those of their family members are somehow questionable. The facts of this case aren't complicated. Multiple recounts, the state Board of Elections, and the trial court all concluded that Justice Riggs was re-elected in November. Like North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls powerfully stated in her dissenting opinion: "It is no small thing to overturn the results of an election in a democracy by throwing out ballots that were legally cast consistent with all election laws in effect on the day of the election... Some would call it stealing the election, others might call it a bloodless coup, but by whatever name, no amount of smoke and mirrors makes it legitimate." This case reminds us how every generation of Americans is ultimately called upon to defend democracy — to bring our nation closer to its founding ideals. Now it is our time. It is only when the times are toughest that we are truly tested. Rest assured that we, like those before us, are up to this test. The tasks before us will not be easily accomplished. In the first year of our independence Tom Paine said, “tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” Together, we can defend our democracy — and we must. As the NDRC continues to fight for free and fair elections in North Carolina and around the country, please make a donation of $30 or more today to help power this work. Thank you, Eric H. Holder, Jr.
| |||||||||
|
