Court sides with the NC NAACP over last-minute purges

[G_j]

https://thinkprogress.org/black-voters-sue-north-carolina-over-last-minute-purges-9526858aa749#.t9ocnhqgk

The NAACP says the practice is disenfranchising thousands.

Three counties in North Carolina are canceling the voter registration of thousands of eligible residents— most of them African-American Democrats — just days before the 2016 election. On Monday, the North Carolina conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sued the state and demanded an immediate stop to the practice, which they dubbed “a coordinated effort right out of the GOP playbook to suppress the black vote in the state.”

The lawsuit charges that Beaufort, Moore, and Cumberland counties are challenging voters’ eligibility with no other evidence than a single piece of mail that was sent to their home and bounced back as undelivered. Many of those challenged and flagged for purging, like James Edward Arthur Sr., have moved within the same county and remain legally allowed to vote. Others still live at their original registration address and fell victim to a simple postal-service error.

Arthur, who is African American and lives in a nursing home, grew up in Beaufort County and has voted in at least 14 elections. He testified that he did not receive any notice from the state or the county that his voter registration had been challenged or that he would be required to attend a hearing to keep his right to vote.

“If I knew my right to vote was in jeopardy, I would do whatever I could to protect it,” he said. “I want and plan to vote in the upcoming election, but I am concerned that since my registration has been canceled I will not be able to cast a ballot or it will not be counted.”

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UPDATE: The federal district court sided with the NAACP late Friday afternoon, calling for an immediate halt to the purge and ordering the state to put the illegally purged voters back on the rolls. During the hearing, Judge Loretta C. Biggs called the purge “insane” and said it “sounds like something that was put together in 1901.”
“The evidence in this case demonstrates why Congress prohibited the systematic removal of the names of voters so close to an election,” she wrote in her ruling. “Denying an eligible voter her constitutional right to vote and to have that vote counted will always constitute irreparable harm.”

[BlueCaliDem]

1. This is why gutting the Voting Rights Act was racist. How much more proof do Americans need to

see that?

I'm so pissed about this I could SPIT.

[Divine Discontent]

2. It's reprehensible and ultimately criminal

I wish our govt would seriously step up their response to these numerous election crimes were reading about on a DAILY FUGGIN BASIS.

[Divine Discontent]

3. So glad to hear the great news!!

[appal_jack]

4. This is so important. k&r, nt