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PreventingVoterFraudorEncouragingVoterSuppression?ExploringNorthCarolina’sControversialVoterIDLaw

OverviewAftertheSupremeCourt’srulinginShelbyCountyv.Holder,whichstruckdownkeyprovisionsoftheVotingRightsAct,theNorthCarolinalegislaturepassedacontroversialbill(HB589,VoterInformationandVerificationAct,orVIVA)that,amongotherprovisions,mandatedthatallNorthCaroliniansshowavalidphotoIDwhenvoting.InAugust2016,the4thCircuitCourtofAppealsstruckdownmostofVIVA’sprovisions.Inthislesson,studentswillexplorevotinglawsinNorthCarolinaandweightheprosandconsofbillslikeVIVA.Basedonclassdiscussionandtheevidencetheycollectthroughoutthelesson,studentswillmakeaninformeddecisionregardingtheiropinionaboutNorthCarolina’selectionlaws.Grade10NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsforCivicsandEconomics• CE.C&G.4.3-AnalyzetherolesofcitizensofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStatesintermsof

responsibilities,participation,civiclifeandcriteriaformembershiporadmission(e.g.,voting,juryduty,lobbying,interactingsuccessfullywithgovernmentagencies,organizingandworkingincivicgroups,volunteering,petitioning,picketing,runningforpoliticaloffice,residency,etc.)

• CE.C&G.5.1-Analyzetheelectionprocessatthenational,stateandlocallevelsintermsofthechecksandbalancesprovidedbyqualificationsandproceduresforvoting(e.g.,civicparticipation,publichearings,forums,atlargevoting,petition,localinitiatives,localreferendums,votingamendments,typesofelections,etc.)

Materials• HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointment,scenarioattached(tobeprovidedto½oftheclass)• JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay,scenarioattached(tobeprovidedto½oftheclass)• PreventingVoterFraudorEncouragingVoterSuppression?ExploringNorthCarolina’sElectionChanges

PowerPointaccompaniment;availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources(inPDFformat):https://k12database.unc.edu/files/2016/09/ExploringNCVoterIDLaw_PPT.pdfo ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe

file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected] TEACHERNOTE:Inordertoincludecomprehensiveinformation,severalslidesinthePPTareverytext

heavy.Itisrecommendedthatteachersrequestaneditableversionofthispresentationtoeditslidesdowntospecificallyaddressstudentlevelandindividualclassroomneeds.

• ExcerptsfromtheSupremeCourt’sMajorityandDissentingOpinionsinShelbyCountyv.Holder,attached• ExcerptswithsummariesoftheSupremeCourt’sMajorityandDissentingOpinionsinShelbyCountyv.

Holder,attached• GovernorMcCrory’sVideoStatementregardingVIVA.Videoisavailablehere:• http://www.governor.nc.gov/videos/20130812/governor-mccrory-signs-popular-voter-id-law• “InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFears”transcriptattached;audioandtextavailableat

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fearso Ifchoosingtoplaytheaudioforstudents,teacherswillalsoneedaccesstotheinternetandspeakers

• NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandCons,handoutattached

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o Thishandoutisthreepages.Thefirstpageofthehandout(containingthepro/conchart)shouldbecopiedonaseparatesheetofpaperandprovidedtostudentsasastand-alonepieceforthefirst5-8minutesoftheactivity.Thenexttwopagescanbecopiedfront/backandshouldbeprovidedlaterintheactivity.

• “U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterIDLaw”article,attached• NCVoterIDBillBumperStickerassignment,attached(optional)Duration60-90minutes(timewillvarydependingonthedepthofstudentdiscussionandwhichactivitiesareimplemented)Procedure

WarmUp:PreventingVoterFraudvs.SecuringtheRighttoVote1. Asawarm-up,instructstudentstopartnerupandprovidehalfofthepartnergroupswiththeattached

“HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointment”scenario.Providetheremainingsetsofpartnerswiththeattached“JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay”scenario.(Ideally,teacherswillcopyeachscenarioonadifferentcolorofpaper,whichwillmakethesecondpartofthiswarm-upactivityeasier.)Instructstudentstoreadthescenariowiththeirpartnerandtodiscussthequestionsontheirhandoutstogether.

2. Afteritseemsthatmostpartnersetsarebringingtheirdiscussionstoaclose(likelyaround5-8minutes),bringtheclassbacktogetherandaskforavolunteertofirstshareasummaryofHallieSmith’sexperienceonElectionDay.Askadditionalstudentswhoworkedwiththisscenariotosummarizesomeoftheirthoughtstothequestions.Movetoslide2ofthePowerPointanddiscussthefollowingquestionsasaclass:• Whatdoesitmeantobedisenfranchised?WasHalliedisenfranchised?Whataretheargumentsfor

“yes,shewas?”Whataretheargumentsfor“no,shewasnot?”Whatisyourpersonalopinion?

3. Next,askavolunteerwhoreadaboutJeffreyO’Brien’sElectionDaytosummarizehisscenario.Alsoasksomeofthestudentstosummarizetheirthoughtstothequestions.Movetoslide3-5ofthePowerPointanddiscuss:• WhywaswhatJeffreydidwrongandillegal?• HowwouldyoufeelifyouhadspentjustasmuchtimeasJeffreyvolunteering,butyouwereinstead

workingforSenatorJones’sopponent?• WhatisthelawregardingvoterfraudinNC?

o InNorthCarolina,thereareanumberofdifferentactsthatmightbeconsideredvoterfraud,someofwhicharemisdemeanorsandotherfelonies.

o Forexample,class2misdemeanorsincludethingsliketakingaballotoutofthevotingenclosureorhelpingsomeoneuseamechanicaldevicetomarkaballot.

o Crimessuchasfalselyregistering,representingyourselfassomeoneelse,votingillegally,payingsomeonetovoteaparticularway,falselyswearingtoanydocument(likeanabsenteeballotapplication),etc.isconsideredmoreseriousanddeemedaClassIfelony.(TheprincipalstatutesareGS163-273,-274,-275.)

• Basedonthisinformation,whatisJeffreyguiltyof?o Apersonwhofraudulentlysignsthepollbookorimpersonatesanothervoterisguiltyofafelony.

• Howoftendoyouthinkthistypeofvoterfraudoccurs?(Allowstudentstodiscusstheirthoughtsandtellthemyouwillcomebacktothispointlater.)

• WhatcouldhavepreventedJeffreyfromcommittingvoterfraud?4. AfterstudentshavediscussedJeffrey’sscenariomovetoslide6,encouragethemtocompareandweigh

thetwoscenariostogether:• Inwhatwaysarethesetwoscenariossimilar?Inwhatwaysdotheycontrast?

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• WouldJeffreyhavebeenabletocastTyrone’svoteatMrs.Smith’snursinghome?Likewise,wouldMrs.SmithhavebeenabletocasthervoteatJeffreyorTyrone’spollingplace?

• Whereisthebalancebetweenpreventingvoterfraudandsecuringacitizen’sabilityandrighttovote?Howdoweensureboth?

5. Letstudentsknowthatwhilethesescenariosarefictional.TellstudentsthatvotingrightsandvoterID

lawshavebeenamuchdiscussedtopicacrosstheUnitedStatesforthelastdecadeorso.TheNorthCarolinalegislaturepassedacontroversialvotinglawin2013.Thebill’sRepublicansponsorssayitwaspassedtofightvoterfraudandensurethateveryvoteiscounted.ButDemocratsopposedthebill,claimingitisapoliticaltactictokeepmanyoftheirsupportersawayfromthepolls.Theyalsoclaimitisaregressivemeasurethatwilldisenfranchisecertainvoters.

6. Tellstudentsyouwantthemtoexplorethisproposal,butfirst,givethemsomebackgroundinformationonthepreviousIDlawinNorthCarolina:• Until2013,newregistrantsareaskedtoprovidetheirdriverlicensenumberorthelastfourdigitsof

theirSocialSecuritynumberontheregistrationform.IftheapplicantisregisteringbymailorthroughavoterregistrationdriveanddoesnotprovidealicensenumberorthelastfourdigitsoftheSocialSecuritynumber,thenheorshewillberequiredtopresentoneofthefollowingformsofidentificationtoanelectionofficialwhenvotingforthefirsttime:o Acurrentandvalidphotoidentificationo Acurrentutilitybill,bankstatement,governmentcheckorpaycheck,oragovernmentdocument

thatshowsthevoter'snameandaddressasitappearsontheregistrationapplication.• WhenavoterisvotingonElectionDayhe/sheisaskedtostatetheirnameandaddresstotheelection

official.Thevotermustthensignthepollbook.Apersonwhofraudulentlysignsthepollbookorimpersonatesanothervoterisguiltyofafelony.(Source:NCCenterforVoterEducation)

OPTIONAL:Voting,theConstitution&theVotingRightsAct

7. Next,explaintostudentsthatbeforetheylookatNC’svoterIDlaw,they’regoingtolearnsomebackgroundinformationaboutlawspertainingtovoting.Useslides7-10toprovideaquickoverviewofvotingandtheConstitution,includingtheAmendmentsthataddressvotingrightsandtheVotingRightsActof1965.Usetheoptionaldiscussionquestionsbelowtocheckforstudentunderstanding:• WhydoyouthinktherearesomanyamendmentstotheConstitutionthataddressvotingrights?• WhywastheVotingRightsActnecessary?Isitnecessarytoday?Whyorwhynot?• Howcanmightpolltaxesandliteracytestsbediscriminatory?Whodotheydiscriminateagainst?• Isvotingafundamentalright?Whyorwhynot?

OPTIONAL:ShelbyCountyv.HolderJigsaw

8. Informstudentsthatin2013,theSupremeCourthandeddownoneofthemostimportantandcontroversialvotingrightscasesinyearswithShelbyCountyAlabamav.Holder.Slides11-12listthebasicfactsofthecase,thequestionatthecenterofthecase,andtheCourt’sruling,includinganimagethatshowseachJustices’vote.

9. Afterreviewingthebackgroundofthecase,explaintostudentsthattheywilleachreceiveanexcerptfrom

themajorityopinionwrittenbyChiefJusticeJohnRobertsorthedissentingopinionwrittenbyJusticeRuthBaderGinsburg.Movetoslide13andreviewthejigsawactivityinstructions.

Next,dividestudentsintogroupsof3-5andprovideeachstudentinthegroupwithadifferentexcerpt.Therearefivetotalexcerpts,threefromthemajorityopinionandtwofromthedissentingopinion.Teachersshoulddecidewhichexcerptstheywouldliketousebeforehand.

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Ø Teachernote:Acopyoftheexcerpts,withaplainlanguagesummary,isattachedforstudentswhomayneedextraassistance.

10. Providestudentswith5-10minutestoreadtheirassignedexcerptandanswerthequestionsonslide13.

Aftertheallottedtime,instructstudentstosharetheirthoughtsabouttheirexcerptswiththeirgroups.Oncestudentshavehadachancetoshareanddiscusstheirexcerpts,discussthefollowingquestionsasaclass:• WhatreasonsdidthemajorityagreetostrikedownpartsoftheVotingRightsAct?Doyouagreewith

thosereasons?Whyorwhynot?• HowdoyouthinkShelbyCountyimpactedtoNorthCarolina?

o Duetoahistoryofdiscrimination,theVotingRightsActrequired40countiesinNorthCarolinatoobtainpreclearancefromtheDOJbeforechangingtheirelectionlaws.Afterthisruling,noneofthesecountieswererequiredtoobtainpreclearance.

VIVA–NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw

11. InformstudentsthatshortlyaftertheSupremeCourt’srulinginShelbyCountytheNorthCarolinaLegislaturedraftedVoterInformationandVerificationAct(VIVA),whichbecameknownas“NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw.”(IfteachersarenotimplementingtheabovejigsawactivityonShelbyv.Holder,asummaryofthecaseshouldatleastbeprovided.)Thebill’sRepublicansponsorssayitwaspassedtofightvoterfraudandensurethateveryvoteiscounted.ButDemocratsopposedthebill,claimingitisapoliticaltactictokeepmanyoftheirsupportersawayfromthepolls.Theyalsoclaimeditwasaregressivemeasurethatwilldisenfranchisecertainvoters.Thebillwaspassedandsignedintolawin2013.

12. Shareslide14,whichcontainsthemajorprovisionsofVIVA.ForamorecomprehensivelookatVIVA,visitWRAL’selectionchangessite:http://www.wral.com/election-changes-coming-in-2014-2016/12750290/• WhydoyouthinkthelegislaturepassedthisbillandGovernorMcCrorysigneditintolaw?

13. PlayGovernorPatMcCrory’svideostatementexplainingwhyhesignedVIVAintolaw.Thevideois

availablehere:http://www.governor.nc.gov/videos/20130812/governor-mccrory-signs-popular-voter-id-law.Discussionquestions:• WhydidGovernorMcCrorysignthisbill?• Howisvotingdifferentthancashingacheck,boardinganairplane,orbuyingSudafedatthe

drugstore?• Doyouthinkthat2016isenoughtimetoimplementavoterIDsystem?Whyorwhynot?• Asidefromthecost,whatotherdifficultiesmightpeoplefacetryingtogetavalidphotoID?• DidthisresponseanswerallofthequestionsyouhavehadaboutVIVA?Ifnot,whatareasofthelaw

didhefailtoaddress?• GovernorMcCrorysays,“ManyofthosefromtheextremeleftwhohavebeencriticizingphotoIDare

usingscaretactics.They’remoreinterestedindivisivepoliticsthanensuringnoone’svoteisdisenfranchisedbyafraudulentballot.”Whatkindofscaretacticsdoyouthinkopponentsofthislawareusing?

• DoyouagreewithGovernorMcCrory’sdecisiontosignthebillintolaw?Whyorwhynot?• IfyoucouldaskGovernorMcCroryaquestionaboutsigningthisbill,whatwouldyouaskhim?

14. Manyopponentsofthebillclaimedthatthislawdiscriminatedagainstminorityvoters,students,andother

citizens.Providestudentswithsomebackgroundinformationonthelaw’sopponentsbyplayingtheshortaudioclip“InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFears.”(Teachersmayalsowanttoprojectorhandoutthetranscriptforstudentstofollowalong.)Thetranscriptisattached,andthetranscriptandaudioisavailableathttp://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fears.(Teacherswithoutaccesstotheinternetandspeakersintheclassroomcanalsoprintand

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distributethetranscriptofthestoryforstudentstoread.)Afterstudentslistentoand/orreadthestory,discussthefollowingquestions:• Howdoescuttingearlyvotingtimesimpactsomepeople’sabilitytovote?• WhataresomeobstaclesthatpreventpeoplefromobtainingtheproperIDneededtovote?• Usingwhatyou’velearnedaboutVIVA,doyoufindMr.Lawrence’sstatementthat,he“doesn’tknowa

personthatdoesn’thaveanIDcardofsometypeoranother”tobeproblematic?Whyorwhynot?• CanyoustillvotewithoutanID?Whatchallengesarepresentedbyabsenteevoting?• DidyouagreewithNCSenatorBobRucho’sstatement?Whyorwhynot?• WhatdidAlisaChangmeanwhenshesaid,“Theseaccusations,thiskindofsuspiciongivessomevoters

inNorthCarolinatheunsettlingfeelingthathistoryisrepeatingitself”?Doyouagreeordisagreewithher?Why?

• DidthisreportanswerallofthequestionsyouhadaboutVIVA?Ifnot,whatpartsofthelawdiditfailtoaddress?

• IfcitizensofNorthCarolinaheardthisreport,doyouthinktheywouldchangetheirmindaboutsupportingVoterIDlaws?Whyorwhynot?

• Ifyoucouldaskonepersonfromthisstoryaquestion,whowouldyouchooseandwhatwouldyourquestionbe?

ProsandConsofVoterIDLaws

15. Next,tellstudentsthatinpartners(orsmallgroupsof3-4),theyaregoingtoweightheprosandconsoftheNCvoterIDlaw.Givestudentstheattached“NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandCons”handoutandgoovertheinstructions.(Teachersshouldcopythefirstpageofthehandoutcontainingthechartonaseparatepieceofpaper.Afterstudentshavespent5-6minutescompilingtheirownpros/consintothechart,providethemwiththenexttwopagesofthehandout.Studentsshouldtakeanother10minutestoconsidertheseadditionalargumentsaswellasnotetheirindividualopinionsattheendoftheactivity.)Oncediscussionhaswanedwithinthegroups,allowstudentstosharesomeoftheiropinionsregardingthebill.Encouragestudentstobacktheiropinionsupwithevidencethattheyhavelearnedthroughoutclass.

FourthCircuitRulingonVIVA16. InformstudentsthatinJuly2016,theFourthCircuitCourtofAppealsstruckdownpartsofVIVA.

Shareslide15withtheclassanddiscuss:• TheCourt’srulingstruckdownorreinstatedwhichpartsofVIVA?

o OverturnedvoterIDprovisionsrequiringIDtovoteatthepollsandreinstatedthefollowing:17-dayearlyvoting,preregistrationfor16&17yearolds,andout-of-precinctvoting.

• Whydoyouthinkthe4thCircuitCourtofAppealsmadethisdecision?WhatisyouropinionoftheCourt’sdecision?

17. ProvidestudentswiththeattachedNPRArticle,“U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterID

Law.”Readthearticlealoudasaclassanddiscuss:• Accordingtothearticle,whydidthe4thCircuitCourtstrikedownpartsofVIVA?• Accordingtothe4thCircuit’sopinion,howdidVIVAdiscriminateagainstAfricanAmericans?• IfthepreclearancesectionsoftheVotingRightsActwerestillenforceable,doyouthinktheNC

legislaturewouldhavebeenabletoenactVIVA?Whyorwhynot?• Afterreadingthisarticle,doyouagreeordisagreewiththeSupremeCourt’sreasoninginShelby

Countyv.Holder?• DoyoubelieveweneedvoterIDlawstoprotecttheintegrityofourelections?Whyorwhynot?• Doyoubelievethere’saneedforaConstitutionalAmendmenttoensurethateveryonehastheright

tovote?Whyorwhynot?18. SharewithstudentsthatinAugust2016,theSupremeCourtdeclinedtointervenetoblockthe4thCircuit’s

ruling:

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AccordingtoReuters:“TheU.S.SupremeCourtonWednesdayrejectedabidbyNorthCarolinatoreinstateforNovember’selectionsseveralvotingrestrictions,includingarequirementthatpeopleshowidentificationatthepolls.Theeight-justicecourt,dividedinmostpart4-4,rejectedarequestmadebyRepublicanGovernorPatMcCroryafteranappealscourtruledlastmonththatthe2013lawdiscriminatesagainstminorityvoters.Fivevotesareneededforanemergencyrequesttobegranted.”Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-election-idUSKCN1162RUDiscuss:• ThinkbacktoourdiscussionaboutShelbyCountyv.Holder-whatwasthevotein?(5-4)• Whywasthisvote4-4?(JusticeAntoninScaliadiedandhisseatontheSupremeCourtwasunfilledas

ofSeptember2016.)• WhatdoyouthinktheoutcomewouldhavebeenifScaliawasaliveatthetimeofthisvote?• Doesthissayanythingaboutoursystemofgovernmentandlaw?

OptionalCulminatingAssignments

19. Optionally,studentscanbegivenoneofthefollowingculminatingassignmentsforhomework:• Writeane-mailtoyourNClegislativerepresentativesstatingyouropinionaboutvoterIDlaws,

specificallyexplainingwhetheryousupportwherethingscurrentlystandafterthe4thCircuitsappealofpartsoftheVoterIDlawinNC.Youre-mailshouldbeatleastthreeparagraphslongandinclude:o YouropiniononvoterIDlawso Evidencetobackupyouropiniono TheactionyouwanttheNCGeneralAssemblytotake(i.e.,respecttheCourt’sdecisionand

refrainfromputtingforthsimilarbills,orcontinuethefight)andwhytheyshoulddoso• Createabumpersticker(seeattachedassignmentsheet)

AdditionalSources/Readings:

• HowhasvotingchangedsinceShelbyCountyv.Holder?:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/07/07/how-has-voting-changed-since-shelby-county-v-holder/

• NorthCarolinaVoterIDBillisaNecessaryEvil:http://www.policymic.com/articles/56901/north-carolina-voter-id-bill-is-a-necessary-evil

• HowvoterIDlawsviolatetheNCConstitution:http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/13/2821143/how-voter-id-laws-violate-the.html

• VoterIDBillraisescontroversyinNorthCarolina:http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57595791/voter-id-bill-raises-controversy-in-north-carolina/

• What’stheMatterWithNorthCarolina?http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/07/north_carolina_s_voter_id_law_is_the_worst_in_the_country.html

• WhattoKnowAboutNCVoterID,ElectionsOverhaul:http://ncvotered.com/research/2013/8_14_13_elections_overhaul.php

• NCGOvPatMcCroryDefendsNewVoterIDLaw:http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/13/voter-id-mccrory

• LawsuitsfiledafterGov.PatMcCrorysignsvoterIDbill:http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/12/3102133/mccrory-signs-voter-id-bill.html

• LawsuitstakeaimatNorthCarolinaVotingLaw:http://nation.time.com/2013/08/13/lawsuits-take-aim-at-north-carolinas-voting-law/

• IsNorthCarolina’sVoterIDBillCommonSensePolicyorDiscrimination?http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec13/voting_08-13.html

• NCGOPChairmanApplaudsGovernorMcCrory’sSigningofHistoricVoterIDBill:http://www.ncgop.org/ncgop-chairman-applauds-governor-mccrorys-signing-of-historic-voter-id-bill/

• NorthCaroliniansOpposeVoterBill:http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/08/north-carolinians-oppose-voter-bill.html

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• DemocracyNorthCarolina,VotingRights:http://www.democracy-nc.org/our-issues/voting-and-elections/voting-rights/

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HallieSmith’sElectionDayDisappointmentOnElectionDaylastNovember,HallieSmith,a78year-oldwoman,usedherwalkertoslowlymakeherwaydownstairstothepollingstationsetupinthelobbyofherIndianapolisretirementhome.Mrs.SmithvotedeveryyearandalwayslookedforwardtoElectionDay.AnAfricanAmericanwoman,shewellunderstoodthehardworksomanyCivilRightsactivistshaddonetoensureshehadtherighttovote.Eventhoughshewasfeelingtiredthatdayandherbackwasbotheringheragain,shewouldn’tmissElectionDayforanythingintheworld.

Assoonassheenteredthelobby,Mrs.Smithsaidhellotoseveraloftheelectionofficialsandvolunteersworkingthepolls.She’dknownthemforyearsandhadwatchedseveralofthemgrowup.Yet,asshestoodthereatthetablepreparedtocastherballot,holdingherselfuponwalkerasbestshecould,shewastoldthatshecouldnotvote.Thepollworkerssaidtheformsofidentificationshehadwithher,whichshehadalwaysused—aphonebillwithhernameonit,aSocialSecurityletterwithheraddressonit,andanexpiredIndianadriver'slicense—werenolongervalidunderIndiana'snewvoterIDlaw.ThenewlawrequiredapictureID,suchasavaliddriver’slicenseoranothercurrentstate-issuedphotoidentificationcard.

Ms.Smithcastaprovisionalballotthatday,butitwasnevercounted.Shewouldhavehadtogodowntotheelectionsofficewithin10daystoproveheridentitywithanewphotoID.Mrs.Smith,whohastroublewalking,wasn’tabletofindaridetotheoffice.

1. InwhatwaydidIndianapolis’svoterlawschange?

2. AlthoughseveralofthepollworkershasknownMrs.Smiththeirwholelife,andeventhoughshehadseveraldocumentsthatprovedheridentity,whywassheunabletocastaregularballot?

3. Whydidn’tMrs.SmithhaveavalidphotoID?

4. Inwhatothersituationsmightsomeonenothaveacurrentstate-issuespictureID?

5. HowdoyouthinkMrs.Smithfeltnothavinghervotecounted?

6. WaswhathappenedtoMrs.Smithatherpollingplacefairandjust?Whyorwhynot?

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JeffreyO’BrienVotesTwiceonElectionDay

Duringthelastpresidentialelection,JeffreyO’Brienspenthundredsofhoursvolunteeringforhispresidentialcandidateofchoice.HebelievedmorethananythingthatSenatorSheilaJoneswouldmakethebestleaderforthiscountryandhewaswillingtodowhateverhecouldtoensureshewon.

Hevolunteeredatthelocalcampaignheadquarters,knockedondoorsandhandedoutliteratureabouther,registeredvotersatseveralvoterregistrationdrivesaroundtown,andhelpeddirecttrafficatseveraleventsthatSenatorJonesspokeatinhisstate.

OnElectionDay,Jeffreywasincrediblyexcitedbutequallynervous.Afterallthatwork,whatifhiscandidatedidn’twin?Hewasfirstinlineathispollingplacethatmorning.AsiscurrentlythelawinNorthCarolina,heprovidedhisnameandaddresstothepollworker,whothenhadhimsignthepollbook.

AfterJeffreyhadvoted,hecalledhisfriendTyronewholivedonecountyover.JeffreywasdistraughtwhenTyronesaidhewasn’tplanningonvotingthatday.Tyroneexplainedthathedidn’thavetime,sincehewasworkinga12hourday.Jeffreywellunderstoodthedifferencejustonevotecouldmake.Hedecidedthathecouldn’tstandthethoughtofSheilaJoneslosingevenonevote.

Jeffreygotinhiscaranddrovetotheneighboringcounty,findingthepollingplacewhereTyronewouldhavecasthisvotewerehenotworkingthatday.Jeffreywentinsideandwhenthepollworkeraskedforhisnameandaddress,JeffreypretendedtobeTyrone.HesignedthepollbookwithTyrone’snameandforasecondtimethatday,hecastavoteforSheilaJones.

1. AsaregisteredvoterinNorthCarolina,whatdidJeffreyhavetodotobeabletocasthisballotathispollingplace?

2. WaswhatJeffreydidfairandjust?Whyorwhynot?

3. InwhatwaydidJeffreybreakNorthCarolinalawonElectionDay?DoyouknowwhatcouldhappentoJeffreyifhewerecaught?

4. WaswhatJeffreydidfairandjust?Whyorwhynot?5. IsthereanythingthatcouldhavepreventedJeffreyfromcommittingvoterfraud?

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ExcerptsfromtheMajorityOpinion

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#1Atthesametime,votingdiscriminationstillexists;noonedoubtsthat.ThequestioniswhethertheAct’sextraordinarymeasures,includingitsdisparate(different)treatmentoftheStates,continuetosatisfyconstitutionalrequirements.Asweputitashorttimeago,“theActimposescurrentburdensandmustbejustifiedbycurrentneeds.”TheVotingRightsActsharplydepartsfromthesebasicprinciples.Itsuspends“allchangestostateelectionlaw—howeverinnocuous—untiltheyhavebeenpreclearedbyfederalauthoritiesinWashington,D.C.”StatesmustbeseechtheFederalGovernmentforpermissiontoimplementlawsthattheywouldotherwisehavetherighttoenactandexecuteontheirown,subjectofcoursetoanyinjunction.TheAttorneyGeneralhas60daystoobjecttoapreclearancerequest,longerifherequestsmoreinformation.IfaStateseekspreclearancefromathree-judgecourt,theprocesscantakeyears.Anddespitethetraditionofequalsovereignty[betweenthestates],theActappliestoonlynineStates(andseveraladditionalcounties).WhileoneStatewaitsmonthsoryearsandexpendsfundstoimplementavalidlyenactedlaw,itsneighborcantypicallyputthesamelawintoeffectimmediately,throughthenormallegislativeprocess.Evenifanoncoveredjurisdictionissued,thereareimportantdifferencesbetweenthoseproceedingsandpreclearanceproceedings;thepreclearanceproceeding“notonlyswitchestheburdenofprooftothesupplicantjurisdiction,butalsoappliessubstantivestandardsquitedifferentfromthosegoverningtherestofthenation.”

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#2Buthistorydidnotendin1965.BythetimetheActwasreauthorizedin2006,therehadbeen40moreyearsofit.Inassessingthe“currentneed[]”forapreclearancesystemthattreatsStatesdifferentlyfromoneanothertoday,thathistorycannotbeignored.Duringthattime,largelybecauseoftheVotingRightsAct,votingtestswereabolished,disparitiesinvoterregistrationandturnoutduetoracewereerased,andAfrican-Americansattainedpoliticalofficeinrecordnumbers.AndyetthecoverageformulathatCongressreauthorizedin2006ignoresthesedevelopments,keepingthefocusondecades-olddatarelevanttodecades-oldproblems,ratherthancurrentdatareflectingcurrentneeds.TheFifteenthAmendmentcommandsthattherighttovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedonaccountofraceorcolor,anditgivesCongressthepowertoenforcethatcommand.TheAmendmentisnotdesignedtopunishforthepast;itspurposeistoensureabetterfuture.

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#3Ourdecisioninnowayaffectsthepermanent,nationwidebanonracialdiscriminationinvotingfoundinSection2.WeissuenoholdingonSection5itself,onlyonthecoverageformula.Congressmaydraftanotherformulabasedoncurrentconditions.Suchaformulaisaninitialprerequisitetoadeterminationthatexceptionalconditionsstillexistjustifyingsuchan“extraordinarydeparturefromthetraditionalcourseofrelationsbetweentheStatesandtheFederalGovernment.”Ourcountryhaschanged,andwhileanyracialdiscriminationinvotingistoomuch,Congressmustensurethatthelegislationitpassestoremedythatproblemspeakstocurrentconditions.

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ExcerptsfromtheDissentingOpinion

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#4WithoverwhelmingsupportinbothHouses,Congressconcludedthat,fortwoprimereasons,Section5shouldcontinueinforce,unabated.First,continuancewouldfacilitatecompletionoftheimpressivegainsthusfarmade;andsecond,continuancewouldguardagainstbacksliding.ThoseassessmentswerewellwithinCongress’provincetomakeandshouldelicitthisCourt’sunstintingapprobation.ThestatedpurposeoftheCivilWarAmendmentswastoarmCongresswiththepowerandauthoritytoprotectallpersonswithintheNationfromviolationsoftheirrightsbytheStates.Inexercisingthatpower,then,Congressmayuse“allmeanswhichareappropriate,whichareplainlyadapted”totheconstitutionalendsdeclaredbytheseAmendments.McCulloch,4Wheat.,at421.SowhenCongressactstoenforcetherighttovotefreefromracialdiscrimination,weasknotwhetherCongresshaschosenthemeansmostwise,butwhetherCongresshasrationallyselectedmeansappropriatetoalegitimateend.“Itisnotforustoreviewthecongressionalresolutionof[theneedforitschosenremedy].ItisenoughthatwebeabletoperceiveabasisuponwhichtheCongressmightresolvetheconflictasitdid.”Katzenbachv.Morgan,384U.S.641,653(1966).Untiltoday,inconsideringtheconstitutionalityoftheVRA,theCourthasaccordedCongressthefullmeasureofrespectitsjudgmentsinthisdomainshouldgarner.

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#5TheCourtholds§4(b)invalidonthegroundthatitis“irrationaltobasecoverageontheuseofvotingtests40yearsago,whensuchtestshavebeenillegalsincethattime.”Ante,at23.ButtheCourtdisregardswhatCon-gresssetabouttodoinenactingtheVRA.Thatextraordinarylegislationscarcelystoppedattheparticulartestsanddevicesthathappenedtoexistin1965.ThegrandaimoftheActistosecuretoallinourpolityequalcitizenshipstature,avoiceinourdemocracyundilutedbyrace.Astherecordforthe2006reauthorizationmakesabundantlyclear,second-generationbarrierstominorityvotingrightshaveemergedinthecoveredjurisdictionsasattemptedsubstitutesforthefirst-generationbarriersthatoriginallytriggeredpreclearanceinthosejurisdictions.Seesupra,at5–6,8,15–17.Thesadironyoftoday’sdecisionliesinitsutterfailuretograspwhytheVRAhasproveneffective.TheCourtappearstobelievethattheVRA’ssuccessineliminatingthespecificdevicesextantin1965meansthatpreclearanceisnolongerneeded.Ante,at21–22,23–24.Withthatbelief,andtheargumentderivedfromit,historyrepeatsitself.ExcerptseditedbyCarolinaK-12fromthefollowingsource:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/annotated-supreme-court-decision-on-voting-rights-act.html

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Excerpts&SummariesfromtheMajorityOpinion

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#1Atthesametime,votingdiscriminationstillexists;noonedoubtsthat.ThequestioniswhethertheAct’sextraordinarymeasures,includingitsdisparate(different)treatmentoftheStates,continuetosatisfyconstitutionalrequirements.Asweputitashorttimeago,“theActimposescurrentburdensandmustbejustifiedbycurrentneeds.”[…]TheVotingRightsActsharplydepartsfromthesebasicprinciples.Itsuspends“allchangestostateelectionlaw—howeverinnocuous—untiltheyhavebeenpreclearedbyfederalauthoritiesinWashington,D.C.”StatesmustbeseechtheFederalGovernmentforpermissiontoimplementlawsthattheywouldotherwisehavetherighttoenactandexecuteontheirown,subjectofcoursetoanyinjunction.TheAttorneyGeneralhas60daystoobjecttoapreclearancerequest,longerifherequestsmoreinformation.IfaStateseekspreclearancefromathree-judgecourt,theprocesscantakeyears.Anddespitethetraditionofequalsovereignty[betweenthestates],theActappliestoonlynineStates(andseveraladditionalcounties).WhileoneStatewaitsmonthsoryearsandexpendsfundstoimplementavalidlyenactedlaw,itsneighborcantypicallyputthesamelawintoeffectimmediately,throughthenormallegislativeprocess.Evenifanoncoveredjurisdictionissued,thereareimportantdifferencesbetweenthoseproceedingsandpreclearanceproceedings;thepreclearanceproceeding“notonlyswitchestheburdenofprooftothesupplicantjurisdiction,butalsoappliessubstantivestandardsquitedifferentfromthosegoverningtherestofthenation.”

ChiefJusticeRobertsopenshisopinionbystatingthat"theVotingRightsActof1965employedextraordinarymeasurestoaddressanextraordinaryproblem,"usingthe"strongmedicine"ofapplyingheavyrequirementsonsomestatesandnototherstofightsuppressionofvotingrights.Hethensuggeststhatthoseruleshaveoutlivedtheirusefulness.

Invokingthe10thAmendment,whichreservespowerstothestatesthatarenotspecificallygrantedtothefederalgovernment,andcitingdoctrinesclaimingthatstatesshouldbetreatedequally,ChiefJusticeRobertsarguesthattheVotingRightsAct"sharplydeparts"fromtheseprinciplesofstates'rights.

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#2

Buthistorydidnotendin1965.BythetimetheActwasreauthorizedin2006,therehadbeen40moreyearsofit.Inassessingthe“currentneed[]”forapreclearancesystemthattreatsStatesdifferentlyfromoneanothertoday,thathistorycannotbeignored.Duringthattime,largelybecauseoftheVotingRightsAct,votingtestswereabolished,disparitiesinvoterregistrationandturnoutduetoracewereerased,andAfrican-Americansattainedpoliticalofficeinrecordnumbers.AndyetthecoverageformulathatCongressreauthorizedin2006ignoresthesedevelopments,keepingthefocusondecades-olddatarelevanttodecades-oldproblems,ratherthancurrentdatareflectingcurrentneeds.TheFifteenthAmendmentcommandsthattherighttovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedonaccountofraceorcolor,anditgivesCongressthepowertoenforcethatcommand.TheAmendmentisnotdesignedtopunishforthepast;itspurposeistoensureabetterfuture.

Thechiefjusticeconcludesthattimeshavechanged:theformulasthatgovernsinglingoutonestatefromanotherfordifferenttreatment,whichonce"madesense,"havelosttheirrelevance,and"nearly50yearslater,thingshavechangeddramatically."ButtherulesgoverningwhichjurisdictionsmustbeoverseenhavebeenrepeatedlypassedbyCongresswithoutchange.

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ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#3Ourdecisioninnowayaffectsthepermanent,nationwidebanonracialdiscriminationinvotingfoundinSection2.WeissuenoholdingonSection5itself,onlyonthecoverageformula.Congressmaydraftanotherformulabasedoncurrentconditions.Suchaformulaisaninitialprerequisitetoadeterminationthatexceptionalconditionsstillexistjustifyingsuchan“extraordinarydeparturefromthetraditionalcourseofrelationsbetweentheStatesandtheFederalGovernment.”Ourcountryhaschanged,andwhileanyracialdiscriminationinvotingistoomuch,Congressmustensurethatthelegislationitpassestoremedythatproblemspeakstocurrentconditions.

ChiefJusticeRobertscloseshisopinionbyexplainingwhatthedecisiondoesnotdo.ItdoesnotoverturntheVotingRightsAct'sbanondiscriminatoryvotingrules.Furthermore,itdoesnotdirectlyaffectthepreclearancerequirementinSection5,whichleavesCongresstheopportunitytodraftnewrules--basedoncurrentconditions--todeterminewhichstatesorlocalgovernmentsshouldbesubjecttopreclearance.ThedecisionallowsthoseaffectedbyvotingrulechangestosueunderSection2oftheact,butthatisalongerandmoreexpensiveprocessthatplacestheburdenofproofonthosechallengingthechanges.

SummaryofExcerptsfromtheDissentingOpinion

ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#4WithoverwhelmingsupportinbothHouses,Congressconcludedthat,fortwoprimereasons,Section5shouldcontinueinforce,unabated.First,continuancewouldfacilitatecompletionoftheimpressivegainsthusfarmade;andsecond,continuancewouldguardagainstbacksliding.ThoseassessmentswerewellwithinCongress’provincetomakeandshouldelicitthisCourt’sunstintingapprobation.ThestatedpurposeoftheCivilWarAmendmentswastoarmCongresswiththepowerandauthoritytoprotectallpersonswithintheNationfromviolationsoftheirrightsbytheStates.Inexercisingthatpower,then,Congressmayuse“allmeanswhichareappropriate,whichareplainlyadapted”totheconstitutionalendsdeclaredbytheseAmendments.McCulloch,4Wheat.,at421.SowhenCongressactstoenforcetherighttovotefreefromracialdiscrimination,weasknotwhetherCongresshaschosenthemeansmostwise,butwhetherCongresshasrationallyselectedmeansappropriatetoalegitimateend.“Itisnotforustoreviewthecongressionalresolutionof[theneedforitschosenremedy].ItisenoughthatwebeabletoperceiveabasisuponwhichtheCongressmightresolvetheconflictasitdid.”Katzenbachv.Morgan,384U.S.641,653(1966).Untiltoday,inconsideringtheconstitutionalityoftheVRA,theCourthasaccordedCongressthefullmeasureofrespectitsjudgmentsinthisdomainshouldgarner.

JusticeGinsburg,whowasacivilrightslawyerspecializingingenderissuesbeforejoiningtheSupremeCourt,writesastronglywordeddissent.Whileherfellowjusticesbelievethe"verysuccess"oftheact"demandsitsdormancy,"shenotesthatCongress"wasofanothermind"andhadreauthorizedtheactrepeatedly.Invotingrightscases,shewrote,thecourtshoulddefertoCongress,whichhasbeengivensweepingpowersundertheConstitution,andespeciallyinamendmentspassedaftertheCivilWar,toprotectsuchrights.Applyingdifferentrulestodifferentstatesisnothingsounusual,shewrote,andthecourtshouldonlyaskifthemethodsusedbyCongresstoaddresstheproblemarerational,andnotsubjectthemtoatoughertest."Congressapproachedthe2006reauthorizationoftheVRAwithgreatcareandseriousness,"shesaid."Thesamecannotbesaidofthecourt’sopiniontoday."

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ShelbyCountyv.HolderExcerpt#5TheCourtholds§4(b)invalidonthegroundthatitis“irrationaltobasecoverageontheuseofvotingtests40yearsago,whensuchtestshavebeenillegalsincethattime.”Ante,at23.ButtheCourtdisregardswhatCon-gresssetabouttodoinenactingtheVRA.Thatextraordinarylegislationscarcelystoppedattheparticulartestsanddevicesthathappenedtoexistin1965.ThegrandaimoftheActistosecuretoallinourpolityequalcitizenshipstature,avoiceinourdemocracyundilutedbyrace.Astherecordforthe2006reauthorizationmakesabundantlyclear,second-generationbarrierstominorityvotingrightshaveemergedinthecoveredjurisdictionsasattemptedsubstitutesforthefirst-generationbarriersthatoriginallytriggeredpreclearanceinthosejurisdictions.Seesupra,at5–6,8,15–17.Thesadironyoftoday’sdecisionliesinitsutterfailuretograspwhytheVRAhasproveneffective.TheCourtappearstobelievethattheVRA’ssuccessineliminatingthespecificdevicesextantin1965meansthatpreclearanceisnolongerneeded.Ante,at21–22,23–24.Withthatbelief,andtheargumentderivedfromit,historyrepeatsitself.Thestruggleforfairnessinelections,sheargues,isnotover,thoughthetacticsofthosewhowouldsuppressvotinghavechanged.Thecourt,shesaid,"errsegregiouslybyoverridingCongress'sdecision."ExcerptseditedbyCarolinaK-12fromthefollowingsource:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/25/us/annotated-supreme-court-decision-on-voting-rights-act.html

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InRuralN.C.,NewVoterIDLawAwakensSomeOldFearsByAlisaChang

Thisweek,NorthCarolinaadoptednewrulesforelections.ThestatenowrequiresaphotoIDtovoteandearlyvotingwillbeshortenedbyoneweek.ThosemeasurescomeontheheelsoftheSupremeCourt'srulingthatinvalidatedakeyprovisionoftheVotingRightsAct.Criticssaythenewrulesreversedcrucialreforms.Thosereforms,theysay,helpedtoprotecttherightsofAfrican-Americans,youngpeopleandthepoor.NPR'sAilsaChangwenttoNorthCarolinatoexplorethenewlaw'spossibleeffects.

AILSACHANG,BYLINE:Sometimesyoucantellhowhardvotingcanbejustbylookingataplace.DrivethrougharuralpocketofnortheasternNorthCarolinacalledBertieCounty,andallyou'llseeformilesandmilesaretobaccoandsoybeanfields.You'llseelargefamiliescrammedintosmalltrailerhomesproppeduponcinderblocks.Andyou'llseenotmanyofthosehomeshavecarssittingoutside.

REVERENDVONNERHORTON:Manyofthesepersonsdon'thavecars.Theycan'taffordautomobiles.

CHANG:Soyearsago,ReverendVonnerHortonandherchurchusedtheearlyvotingsystemtomakesureasmanypeopleaspossiblecouldvote.Here'swhattheydo:Theysendvansacrossthecounty,doortodoor,topickpeopleupandtakethemtothepolls.Butthey'realwaysshortontime.Dothemath,shesays.Onechurchvanholdsabout10people.Gatheringthemupcantakemorethananhour.Thenyougottodrivetodifferentpollingplaceslongdistancesapart.Repeatallofthisafewmoretimesinonedayandyou'veonlygot50ballotsinthebox.Andthisnewlawhasnowcutearlyvotingfrom17daysto10.

HORTON:Losingthatweekisalsogoingtoputchallengesonusonhowwe'regoingtomoveacrossacountythat'stwohourswidetogetpeopletovotingpolls.

CHANG:There'sabigdemandtovoteearlyinBertieCounty.Lastyear,about6,000peopledidit,morethanhalfofallvotershere.Andevenifallthosevotersdidgetbacktopollingplacesagain,there'sanotherhurdlewiththenewrules:Youneedagovernment-issuedphotoIDtovoteinperson.

AlotofresidentsapplaudthisnewrulerequiringpictureIDs,likeMacLawrence.He'ssupervisingbigmachinescroppingleavesinhistobaccofield.

MACLAWRENCE:Ithinkthere'salotoffolksvotinginmorethanoneplace.Ifyoucan'tprovewhoyouare,thenyououghtnotbeabletovote.

CHANG:Actually,evidenceofvoterfraudinNorthCarolinaisprettyminimal.TheStateBoardofElectionshasreportedonlytwocasesofvoterimpersonationfraudinthelast10years.Still,Lawrencesays,presentinganIDishardlyaburden.

LAWRENCE:Idon'tknowapersoninBertieCountythatdoesn'thaveanIDcardofsometypeoranother.

CHANG:Well,morethan300,000registeredvotersinNorthCarolinalackeitheradriver'slicenseorastateID.That'swhatrecordsfromtheStateBoardofElectionsshow.AndinBertieCounty,accordingtoavotingrightsgroup,almost10percentofallvotersfallintothatcategory,mostofthempoorAfrican-Americans.Imetsomeofthematalocalchurch.

TERESAVALENTINE:MynameisTeresaValentine.

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CHANG:And,Teresa,doyouhaveastateIDoradriver'slicense?

VALENTINE:No,no.

SUDIESUTTON:MynameisSudieSutton.Idon'thaveadrivinglicenseorastateIDcard.

CHANG:ThenIcaughtEddieWinbornepullingweedsoutsidehistrailerhome.Helethisdriver'slicenseexpirewhenhewasinhis40s.Now,he'sthumbingthroughhiswallettolookforsomeotherID.

EDDIEWINBORNE:Gotoneofthem.

CHANG:Well,that'syourMedicarecard.

WINBORNE:Mm-hmm.

CHANG:Anythingwithyourpictureonit?

WINBORNE:No,don'thavenothingelsewithmypictureonit.

CHANG:Manyresidentsshowedmephotoidentificationforfoodstamps,butthatIDdoesn'tqualifyunderthenewlaw.Supportersofthelegislationsayevenifyoudon'thaveavalidphotoID,youcanstillvoteabsentee.Butyouneedtwowitnessestosignyourballotandyouhavetofilloutacountyelectionsform.Thatmightnotsoundlikeabigdeal,butReverendHortonsaysthatcanbearealobstacleforpoorpeople.You'retalkingaboutvoterswhodon'thaveInternetaccessintheirhomes,whowillneedhand-holdingtogetaballot.Sheremembersalargetornadothathittwoyearsago.

HORTON:Wehadpeoplefromthestorm,thesesameseniorsthathaddamagesandall,andcouldapplyforFEMA.Butbecausetheycouldnotreadorwrite,theydidn'twanttobebotheredwiththeapplicationprocess.

CHANG:SoHortonsayssheexpectsalotofpeoplejustwon'tbothertovoteabsentee,andtheycertainlywon'tbotherapplyingforaNorthCarolinastateIDjusttovote.Sotheymightnevercastaballotagain.Votingrightsadvocateshaveworkedmorethan10yearsfightingforreformslikelongerearlyvotingperiods,same-dayregistrationandpre-registrationof17-year-olds.Allofthatvanishedthisweek.BobPhillipsofCommonCausesayshefindsitastonishinghowfarbackwardsNorthCarolinahasgonewiththisnewlaw.

BOBPHILLIPS:It'sinterestinghowin2008,weledthecountryinhavingthelargestpercentageincreaseinvoterturnout.Interestingthatwhenwehavearecordturnout-arecordturnoutofyoungpeople,arecordturnoutofAfrican-Americans,suddenlywearepassinglawsthatarehittingharderthosepopulations.Whyisthat?

CHANG:Supportersofthelegislation,likeRepublicanStateSenatorBobRucho,saysuchtalkisnothingmorethanwhathecallsliberalrhetoricfrompeoplewhodon'tcareaboutvoterfraud.

SENATORBOBRUCHO:Whenchangesaremade,andpeoplearesoadamantlyopposedtothosechanges,inmyjudgment,they'retryingtohidesomethingorthey'retrying-they'rehavingsomethingtakenawayfromthem,inessence,thatmayallowthemtocheat.

CHANG:Theseaccusations,thiskindofsuspiciongivessomevotersinNorthCarolinatheunsettlingfeelingthathistoryisrepeatingitself.TellingAlbertaCurrie,thegreat-granddaughterofaslave,thatsheisnolongerwelcomeatapollingplacetakesherbacktoanuglytimeinNorthCarolina,atimeshethoughthad

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disappeared.Sheremembersvotingin1956inRobesonCounty,rightwhenshebecameeligibletovote.Becauseshewasblack,shehadtospendalldayatthepollingplace.

ALBERTACURRIE:Thewhitepeoplewentaheadofus.Thatmeanttheblackpeoplewouldbelast.Andifwegothomeatdusk-dark,wewashomeatdusk-dark.Weweren'thomeatlight.

CHANG:Curriehasconsistentlyvotedatpollingplaceseversincethatfirsttime.Butnow,shewon'tbeableto.Shecan'tgetastatephotoIDwithoutabirthcertificate.Shedoesn'thaveonebecauseshewasbornwithamidwifeonafarm.Curriesaysshe'senduredplentyofracisminherruralcorneroftheSouth,likethetimeshewashiredtocleanahighschoolandwhitestudentssplashedcansofurineonherwhenshewalkedhomefromwork.ThenewvotinglawinNorthCarolinameansAlbertaCurriewillnowhavetovoteabsentee.Butshesaysthat'snotreallyvoting.Youneedtoshowupinpersontovotewithdignity.

CURRIE:Iwanttoseemyvotecounted.Letmebethere.Iwanttobethere.Iwanttoseethat.

CHANG:Curriehasjoinedalawsuitagainstthestatehopingtostopthenewlawfromgoingintoeffectbecause,shesays,missingadayatthepollingplaceislikemissingchurch.It'sasifthere'sanemptyspotinsideyourselfyoufeelalldaylong.AilsaChang,NPRNews.

TranscripteditedforformattingbytheNCCivicEducationConsortiumfromthefollowingsource:http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212664895/in-rural-n-c-new-voter-id-law-awakens-some-old-fears

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NorthCarolina’sVoterIDLaw–ProsandConsInyoursmallgroup,discussthevariousargumentsforsupportingandopposingNC’svoterIDlaw.Comeupwithasmanylegitimateprosandconsasyoucanandnotetheminthechartbelow.Considerwhatwehavediscussedinclassaswellasyourownnewideas.

PROArgumentsinSupportoftheBill

CONArgumentsinOppositiontotheBill

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NorthCarolina’sVoterIDBill–ProsandConsHasyourgroupconsideredalltheargumentsinyourpro/conchart?Readthroughtheinformationbelowanddeterminewhethereachstatementworksinsupportofthebill(pro)oropposesthevoterIDbill(con).Somestatementsmayworkforboth.

o IfthestatementworksinfavorofvoterIDlaws(PRO),writeaPintheblank.o IfthestatementworksinoppositionofvoterIDlaws(CON),writeaCintheblank.o Placebothlettersinanyblankforwhichthestatementcouldworkforeitherside.o Ifyoualreadyconsideredthestatementinyourgroup’schart,placeaccheckinthe

blankalongwiththePorC.• _____NorthCarolinaisnottheonlystatewhereincreasedidentificationrequirementsareunder

consideration.Thereisanationwidepushtoincreaseidentificationrequirements.

• _____ThereisagrowingconsensusthatrequiringphotoIDtovotemayraisebarrierstovotingfortraditionallydisadvantagedgroups(i.e.students,theelderly,lowwealthcommunitiesandotherswhodonotpossessthemostcommonformofphotoID,adriver’slicense).

• _____AddingaphotoIDrequirementisnotofconcerntomanyvotersandwhenaskedinpublicopinion

surveys,manyareinclinedtosupportaddingaphotoIDrequirement.• _____TheregistrationpoliciesalreadyinplaceinNorthCarolinaandinmanyotherstatesmakephotoID

lawsredundantandhardlyjustifiableinlightoftheirprojectednegativeandundemocraticconsequences.• _____Evenonefraudulentvoteisonevotetoomany.Itunderminesconfidenceinourelectionsystemand

ourstateshoulddoanythingpossibletoensurevoterfrauddoesn’ttakeplace.• _____VoterturnoutintheUnitedStatesisalreadylow.Thisbillwilladdyetanotherinconvenience,thus

resultinginevenlesspeoplevoting.• _____The$834,000itwouldtaketoimplementthebillisnotalotofmoneyincomparisontootherstate

expenditures.Thus,ifitbecomeslaw,institutingthevoterIDrequirementwillnotbeafinancialburden.• _____Inthistougheconomy,the$834,000itwouldtaketoimplementthebillshouldbeallocatedtomore

pressingneedsinourstate,suchaseducationorjobscreation.• _____Itiseasytogetastate-issuedphotoI.D.Thereisnoreasoneverypersoneligibletovotecan’teasily

getsuchanIDandmostwillalreadyhaveone.• _____Ifpassedintolaw,theIDrequirementcancausediscrepancieswhenIDsarechecked.Itcanbe

difficultforpollworkerscompareIDphotoswithactualfaces.Drivers’licensesandUSPassportsarevalidforanumberofyears,sosomepeoplewon’tlookallthatmuchliketheirphotos.

• _____The1965VotingRightsActoutlawedliteracytestsandpolltaxesasawayofassessingwhether

anyonewasfitorunfittovote.ThelegislationdeterminedthatallanindividualneededtovotewasAmericancitizenshipandtheregistrationoftheirnameonanelectorallist.Noformofhindrancetothiswouldbetoleratedbythelawcourts.

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• _____AmendmentXIV-Section.1.OftheUSConstitutionstatesthat“AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttothejurisdictionthereof,arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereintheyreside.NoStateshallmakeorenforceanylawwhichshallabridgetheprivilegesorimmunitiesofcitizensoftheUnitedStates;norshallanyStatedepriveanypersonoflife,liberty,orproperty,withoutdueprocessoflaw;nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictiontheequalprotectionofthelaws.”

• _____Crawfordv.MarionCountyElectionBoard,553U.S.181(2008)wasaUnitedStatesSupremeCourt

caseholdingthatanIndianalawrequiringvoterstoprovidephotoIDsdidnotviolatetheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.A2005IndianalawrequiredallvoterscastingaballotinpersontopresentaUnitedStatesorIndianaphotoID.UndertheIndianalaw,voterswhodonothaveaphotoIDmaycastaprovisionalballot.Tohavetheirvotescounted,theymustvisitadesignatedgovernmentofficewithin10daysandeitherbringaphotoIDorsignastatementsayingtheycan'taffordone.TheDistrictCourtand7thCircuitCourtofAppealsbothupheldthelaw.Thecircuitcourtwasdeeplydivided,withthedissentcharacterizingthelawasathinly-veiledattempttodisenfranchiselow-incomeDemocraticPartyvoters.TheUSSupremeCourtalsoupheldthevoterIDlaw.

Yourfinalopinions(answerindividually):• IsrequiringaphotoIDanundueburdenuponvoting?Whyorwhynot?

• Inyouropinion,wouldthisbilldisenfranchisecertainvoters,ormakeitmoredifficultforparticulargroupsofpeopletocastaballot?

• Wouldthebillensurelessinstancesofvoterfraud,inyouropinion?• Ifyouwerethegovernor,wouldyouhavesignedthisbill?Whyorwhynot?

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U.S.AppealsCourtStrikesDownNorthCarolina'sVoterIDLawByCamilaDomonoskeforTheTwo-Way:BreakingNewsfromNPR

AfederalappealscourthasoverturnedNorthCarolina'ssweepingvoterIDlaw,rulingthatthelawwaspassedwith"discriminatoryintent"andwasdesignedtoimposebarrierstoblockAfrican-Americansfromvoting.Therulingcamefromathree-judgepanelofthe4thU.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals.Thestateis"almostcertain"toappealtothefullcourtortotheU.S.SupremeCourt,NPR'sPamFesslerreports.Thelawhasbeencontroversialeversinceitwasenactedin2013—"rightaftertheSupremeCourtstruckdownaprovisionoftheVotingRightsActthatmighthavepreventedthelawfromtakingeffect,"asPamhasreported."TheU.S.JusticeDepartment,thestateNAACPandotheradvocacygroupshavebeenfightingthechangeseversince,"Pamsays."Theysaythelawdiscriminatesagainstminoritiesandisunconstitutional.Amongotherthings,itrequiresvoterstoshowaphotoID,unlesstheysweartheyfaceda'reasonableimpediment'tryingtogetone."ButitdidmorethanjustrequirephotoIDs.MichaelTomsicofmemberstationWFAEexplainedlastsummerthatthelawrolledbackaseriesofchangesthatadvocatessayexpandedAfrican-Americanvoterparticipation:"Fordecadesinthestate,blackvoterturnoutlaggedfarbehindwhiteturnout.Then,in2000,statelawmakersopenedupanearlyvotingperiod.In2005,theysaidvoterscouldcastballotsoutsidetheirassignedprecinct.Andin2007,theyenabledsame-dayregistration."Afterthosechanges,attorneyAllisonRiggssays,blackvoterregistrationandturnoutsurged.

"'Theyhadtheirintendedeffectofeveningtheplayingfieldinthestate,andtheLegislatureyankedthataway,'shesays."The2013lawcutsearlyvotingbyaweek,requiresvoterstovoteintheirassignedprecinctandstopsvotersfromregisteringandvotingonthesameday.ThisApril,afederaljudgeruledthatthelawserveda"legitimatestateinterest"andconcludedtherewasnotsufficientevidenceofdiscriminatoryintent.Thatjudge'sopinionwashefty—485pages,packedwithfactualfindings.The4thCircuitwasn'timpressed."Weappreciateandcommendthe[lower]courtonitsthoroughness,"thepanelwrote,but"thecourtseemstohavemissedtheforestincarefullysurveyingthemanytrees."TheappealscourtnotedthattheNorthCarolinaLegislature"requesteddataontheuse,byrace,ofanumberofvotingpractices"—then,datainhand,"enactedlegislationthatrestrictedvotingandregistrationinfivedifferentways,allofwhichdisproportionatelyaffectedAfricanAmericans."Thechangestothevotingprocess"targetAfricanAmericanswithalmostsurgicalprecision,"thecircuitcourtwrote,and"imposecuresforproblemsthatdidnotexist."

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Theappealscourtsuggestedthatthemotivationwasfundamentallypolitical—aRepublicanlegislatureattemptingtosecureitspowerbyblockingvotesfromapopulationlikelytovoteforDemocrats."Ourconclusiondoesnotmean,andwedonotsuggest,thatanymemberoftheGeneralAssemblyharboredracialhatredoranimositytowardanyminoritygroup,"therulingreads.Itadds:"Butthetotalityofthecircumstances—NorthCarolina'shistoryofvotingdiscrimination;thesurgeinAfricanAmericanvoting;thelegislature'sknowledgethatAfricanAmericansvotingtranslatedintosupportforoneparty;andtheswifteliminationofthetoolsAfricanAmericanshadusedtovoteandimpositionofanewbarrieratthefirstopportunitytodoso—cumulativelyandunmistakablyrevealthattheGeneralAssemblyused[the2013law]toentrenchitself.Itdidsobytargetingvoterswho,basedonrace,wereunlikelytovoteforthemajorityparty.Evenifdoneforpartisanends,thatconstitutedracialdiscrimination."AsTomsicwrotelastyear,whatultimatelyhappenswiththiscasemighthaveimplicationsforvotingrightsacrossthecountry.Earlierthissummer,the5thCircuitCourtofAppealsruledthatavoterIDlawinTexashadadiscriminatoryeffect—althoughthejudgesdidnotruleonthequestionofdiscriminatoryintent,returningthecasetoalowercourtforreconsiderationofthatpoint.Source:http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/29/487935700/u-s-appeals-court-strikes-down-north-carolinas-voter-id-law

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NorthCarolina’sVIVABumperStickerCreateabumperstickerexpressingyourpersonalopiniononNorthCarolina’sVIVA.Youshouldalsoincludeawrittenparagraphexplainingthedifferentaspectsofyourbumpersticker.

TheBumperSticker

PossiblePoints/15Points Thebumperstickermustcontainanoriginalslogan,word,orphrasethatexpressesan

attitudeaboutvoterIDlaws./15Points Thebumperstickershouldbeartisticallydesigned(i.e.,containdrawings,symbols,

etc.)withathoughtfulcolorscheme/10Points Theoverallworkshouldbecreativeandmustclearlyshowtoitsviewerthatgreat

effortwasputforthincreatingandcompletingthebumpersticker./10Points Thebumperstickershouldbeappropriateforitsintendedaudience.

TheParagraph

PossiblePoints/15Points Theparagraphshouldexplainwhyyouchosetheexpressionyoudidandexactlywhat

itmeans./15Points Theparagraphshouldalsoexplainthetargetaudience.(Example:Republicanor

Democraticleaders,generalcitizens,civilrightsactivists,etc.)/10Points Theparagraphshouldincludeanexplanationoftheartisticqualitiesofthebumper

sticker.(Example:Whydidyouchoosethecolorsthatyoudid?)/10Points Theparagraphneedstobewritteninlegiblepenortyped.Youmustusecomplete

sentencesthatconnectideastoreceivefullcreditfortheassignment./100PointsTotalPointsforthisAssignment