Ella Baker Voter Empowerment Act
Issue: Expanding Democracy
Target Level of Office: State
Policy Origin: North Carolina State Legislature
Poilcy/Bill Number: House Bill 689
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=258
YEO Co-Sponsor:
Rep. Marcus Brandon
Summary Narrative of the Policy: This bill seeks to extend early voting, increase poll hours
during early voting, create an online voter registration process, and increase one-stop polling
locations. Furthermore under this bill, state employees will receive 24 hours of annual paid
leave for election service and all elections officials will have to be certified on election laws and
procedures related to voting.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• Voting is the foundation of our democracy and a fundamental right.
• According to the Brennan Center, since the 2010 election, new voting restrictions are
slated to be in place in 22 states. Unless these restrictions are blocked — and there are
court challenges to laws in six of those states — voters in nearly half the country could
find it harder to cast a ballot in the 2014 midterm election than they did in 2010. The
new laws range from photo ID requirements to early voting cutbacks to voter registration
restrictions. Partisanship and race were key factors in this movement. Most restrictions
passed in states with increases in minority turnout.
• The Ella Baker Voter Empowerment Act aims to increase accessibility, accountability, and
integrity in the electoral process. The bill would modernize voter registration by facilitating
secure ways to take advantage of existing technology and improve the electoral process
by decreasing barriers to voting. By increasing access for all eligible voters and addressing
elections officials and/or poll worker misinformation, the Ella Baker Voter Empowerment
Act will help to remove practices that interfere with a person’s right to cast a ballot.
In addition, the bill will require better training of poll staff and promote a nonpartisan
approach to election administration.
92
State Level
Policy
2014 Book