Campaign Statement on BOE Decision

08.15.13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Pasquotank BOE decision provides framework to disenfranchise student voters

On Tuesday, August 13, 2013, the Republican-controlled Pasquotank County Board of Election (BOE) attempt to block Mr. Montravias D. King from running for city council in Elizabeth City provides the legal basis to deny any and all students living at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) the right vote in local elections and, consequently, the right to run for office in Elizabeth City. Ultimately, their action is a direct violation of the US Supreme Court decision in Symm vs. United States (1979), which upheld student’s rights to vote in the town and cities where they attend school. The decision by the Pasquotank County BOE is a dangerous contradiction, blatant defiance of the law(s) that govern our great nation, and may lay the framework to disenfranchise students living at ECSU by denying them the right to vote in future local elections.

This action is a just a small part of broader statewide efforts to suppress the vote, specifically the minority and college vote. On Monday, August 12, 2013, the Watauga County BOE voted to eliminate an early voting site and Election Day polling place on the campus of Appalachian State University. On the same day, Governor McCrory, a Republican, signed the controversial “Voter Reform Bill” into law despite large protests from entities such as the NAACP and the Moral Monday Movement. The law eliminates the program designed to pre-register sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) year-olds, eliminates same day voter registration, bans student ID’s from being used at the polls, eliminates straight-ticket voting, and cuts early voting by a week (17 days to 10, but requires the same amount of early voting hours as the 2012 presidential election). Although supporters of the law say the provisions will eliminate voter fraud and standardize elections across the state, the law is harmful to North Carolinians and disproportionally affects minorities. The fact is the majority of North Carolinians (2.5 million) cast ballots during the early voting period with more than 70% of African-Americans used early voting during the 2008 and 2012 general election, compared 52% of white voters.

Fifty years after the assassination of Medgar Evers we are still fighting attacks on our voting rights. The attempts by Gov. McCory, Mr. Pete Gilbert and other Republicans seek to roll back decades of progressive political gains and these attacks on voting rights will not be taken lightly. Voting rights is an important and serious matter. Too many people fought, died, and sacrificed for equality at the ballot box.

Mr. King will continue to work with his attorney Ms. Clare Barnett from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to utilize every legal and moral tool available to ensure justice will prevail. Mr. King will continue to speak out against moves by Mr. Gilbert and the Pasquotank County BOE to intimidate ECSU students and deny them of their constitutional right to vote in the location where they attend school. More so, Mr. King will continue to use his voice and other methods to highlight the injustices that seek to suppress the vote. Dr. King once said, “Our lives end the day we become silent about things that matter the most.”

For more information Contact:

Justin Waddell, Spokesperson/Communications Director for the committee to Elect King for 4th Ward

(703)-400-7485

Jwaddellnc2@yahoo.com

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