Letter: Bills would restrict voter rights in North Dakota
Many of the legislators proposing this unfortunate legislation were elected by the same voting system that they’re attacking. It doesn’t make sense.
Written By:
Rick Gion, communications and policy director, North Dakota Voters First, Fargo | 8:00 am, Feb. 4, 2021 ×
North Dakota Voters First feels that these bills are a “solution in search of a problem” and are just plain unnecessary. We are a nonpartisan voter advocacy group. Part of our job is to be a watchdog for potential voter suppression.
Unfortunately, this batch of very partisan legislation is being proposed by a small group of Republican legislators that are following a national trend of conspiracy-based opinions. This proposed legislation doesn’t strengthen our North Dakota voting system; it damages it.
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Instead, we urge this group of legislators to focus their energy on COVID relief for North Dakotans. Unemployment, housing and hunger are all very important issues right now. There needs to be a sense of urgency, and many other legislators are working hard to be helpful.
North Dakota had record voter turnout this last election, and Donald Trump won the state by a large margin. The voting system works here, and many folks I know really appreciate the way that early voting is set up. Additionally, many of the legislators proposing this unfortunate legislation were elected by the same voting system that they’re attacking. It doesn’t make sense.
BISMARCK, N.D. On the heels of the 2020 census, states now are getting started on redrawing their legislative maps. But watchdogs say there are still concerns about gerrymandering in states such as North Dakota, and hope citizens demand more transparency in the process. .