HEATHER MURPHY: Legislators should honor the fallen by protecting voter access, not restricting it

As a veteran who served to defend our country and its ideals, Memorial Day is a deeply meaningful holiday for me. It’s a day that we commemorate all those who gave their lives to protect our fundamental freedoms — including the freedom to vote.

Following in the footsteps of my brother and both my grandfathers, I decided to join the military to provide a better life for my family. My time in the Air Force took me across this great country and gave me new perspectives that continue to shape how I see the world.

Now, I’m proud to live and vote in North Carolina. I’ve voted in every election since I moved here, and I have been impressed by our elections compared to the other states in which I've lived. The early voting locations, vote-by-mail procedures, and use of scanned paper ballots have given me confidence that my vote—and the votes of my fellow North Carolinians—were counted.

However, I’m also aware that North Carolina has a long history of making it more difficult for certain communities to vote. I witnessed that legacy firsthand in the 2020 election.

As a poll protection volunteer in Alamance County, I watched a man stand across from the polling location with a pistol on his hip, intimidating those in line to vote while police officers attacked a peaceful demonstration a block away. I watched a mother give a piece of Halloween candy to her costumed five-year-old to get the taste of pepper-spray out of her mouth. Those images should not — and cannot — be North Carolina’s legacy.

That’s why I cannot stand by silently as some of our state legislators work to make it harder to cast a ballot. Several lawmakers are currently considering legislation that would make voting less accessible for North Carolina voters — especially for older voters and veterans.

It would also force counties to throw away any mail ballots they receive after 5 p.m. on Election Day, getting rid of our three-day grace period that allows ballots mailed on or before Election Day to be counted. This extra time gives North Carolina voters protection against unexpected mail delays. Had S.B. 326 been in place before the 2020 general election, North Carolina counties would have thrown out thousands of eligible votes received after Election Day.

Restrictions on mail voting like S.B. 326 are a big problem for veterans like me. Many of us typically vote absentee. While currently serving military members would be allowed extra time to mail back their vote, under S.B. 326, the veterans who have served our country would be denied this extra time to cast our ballots.

One in five military voters in North Carolina cast their ballots by mail in the 2020 general election. Every North Carolina voter should have this same opportunity to ensure that their vote is counted.

This Memorial Day, I call on every one of our state lawmakers to honor the sacrifices of our fallen troops. Instead of undermining our freedom to vote, come together to make North Carolina’s democracy stronger and more inclusive for all.