Why ban Sunday voting?

By Laura Leslie

Posted: June 16, 2011

House lawmakers are expected to vote today on Senate Bill 47, a sweeping rewrite of state election laws that would restrict access to early voting and ban same-day voter registration. The measure has the backing of the GOP leadership and could be headed to the governor's desk by tomorrow.

One provision in the bill would prohibit early voting on Sundays – the day some African-American churches organize "Souls to the Polls" voting drives.

Critics of the measure say the provision is aimed squarely at reducing African-American turnout.

Those supporting the Sunday voting ban have had difficulty explaining why it's needed. House Elections chairman David Lewis would only say, "The Senate wanted it."

Asked about the ban at a press conference today, Senate Leader Phil Berger said, "It's my understanding that there are some folks who feel that Sundays should not be mixed politics and religion, that it’s probably better to have a day that folks take a day off from politics. That’s one of the comments that I’ve heard."

Is that a good enough reason to keep people from voting on that day?

"Again, that’s just the comment I’ve heard," Berger responded.

The measure is expected on the House floor sometime later today.

The questions are near the end of the press conference at right.

15 Comments

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Just don't open all the polls. I vote an Sat mornings because I also work two jobs and that would be the only time I have. since we can not take time from work to vote anymore.

ctya
June 21, 2011 12:41 p.m.

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sunday voting is back in this isnt even a story. all you d's are so annoying always complaining about anything that an r does, and quick to forget the last 10 years in NC.

marktroll
June 20, 2011 4:51 p.m.

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Comments heard from who when and where????

dlphnwmn8
June 20, 2011 8:47 a.m.

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It is no legislator's business what I do on Sunday. But it IS my business when they target a specific group of tax-paying NC citizens, making it more difficult for them to exercise a fundamental, constitutional right. This is as un-American as it gets.

Native_Hillbilly
June 17, 2011 11:35 p.m.

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So it's ok to pass legislation allowing the purchase of alcohol on Sundays, but it's not ok to vote on Sundays...

Hmm....

Somebody got some splainin to do....

BIlzac
June 17, 2011 2:15 p.m.

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and in THE DARK OF THE NIGHT, those dirty republicans SLIP in a provision to make voting on sunday unchanged. OH NO THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN!!!! ps- have any of you actually seen the sunday voting numbers?????? its a waist of time.

marktroll
June 17, 2011 10:57 a.m.

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Why ban voting on the week-end? Oh, you silly geese! Because folks of great wealth have plenty of time to spend in line at the polls during the week. It's only the Working Joes struggling to balance family demands with one, or two, or three jobs that need acccess to the polls on the weekend. That's why the Republicans want to end Sunday voting. The New GOP: Government by the elite and for the elite.

atticush
June 16, 2011 4:21 p.m.

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"A big part of Republican ideology unlike Democratic ideology is Family Values. Sundays should be dedicated to God and Family and not politics and voting. I say we bring back the old blue laws and close stores and curb liquor sales on Sundays."

You can "dedicate Sunday to God" without governmental sponsorship. I hope you understand the dangerous precdent set anytime government and religion are mixed: if, in the future, our government officials are not Christians but are of another faith (e.g., Islam, Judiasm, etc.), then they can just as easily make changes that will curtail your rights as a Christian. Is that what you want? Because that's what you are advocating.

jason19
June 16, 2011 2:55 p.m.

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The Republican leaders need to stop stuffing this kind of legislation down our throats. If someone wants to vote on Sunday, let that person. Not everyone observes the Sabbath on that day and not everyone is religious. Open up your eyes and look at the diversity around you. We are diverse and that fact needs to be taken into account

jeffserra
June 16, 2011 2:48 p.m.

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When are the Chick-Fil-A employees supposed to vote?!?!?!

Jackson711
June 16, 2011 2:18 p.m.

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Why ban Sunday voting?

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