With midterm elections coming to an end on November 6, the state primaries have been carried out from as early as March into September to determine what names of government officials will be present on the general election ballot.
Although most citizens view voting as a basic concept, there are still many disconnects left between communities and government officials that leave people to distrust the process created by the founding fathers of this country centuries ago.
The general election ballot will take the winners from primary elections and give representatives such as senators, governors, and mayors the opportunity to represent their state or county.
When it comes to the politics of voting, a divide between the parties can overtake and lead to problems within the system.
Gerrymandering, known as the process politicians use to manipulate electoral districts for political gain, has been one of the biggest problems for political parties in the past.
In 2016, the debacle of splitting the twelfth district into the now sixth and thirteenth made many believe the Republican party was aiding in racial gerrymandering.
In what seemed to be an attempt to try and keep the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives Republican, the Republican party was left to redraw the map.
The line splitting the two districts divides the campus of North Carolina Agricultural & Technological University.
This divide has students of the university as well as members of the community worrisome of the sway the divide may have on future elections considering NC A&T is the largest historically black public university in the country.
At the Middle District Court in Greensboro, N.C. the three district judges ruled that the Republican-drawn congressional district map was unconstitutional on grounds of partisan gerrymandering.
At a House of Representatives meeting in 2016 while determining the redistricting of the congressional district maps, Republican Rep. Dave Lewis stressed that the gerrymandering was purely partisan and not racial.
“I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats, because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats,” Lewis said. “We want to make clear that we, to the extent are going to use political data in drawing this map – it is to gain partisan advantage on the map. I want that criteria to be clearly stated and understood.”
The twelfth district was previously marked by Democratic Rep. Alma Adams.
The sixth district is now covered by Republican Rep. Mark Walker and Republican Rep. Ted Budd covers the thirteenth district.
Ballot Questions for Robeson County
Early Voting Hours and Locations for Robeson County
HOURS
Wednesday, October 17- Friday, October 19
7 am – 7 pm
Monday, October 22- Friday, October 26
7 am – 7 pm
Sunday, October 28
1 pm – 4 pm
Monday, October 29- Friday, November 2
7 am – 7 pm
Saturday, November 3
8 am – 1 pm
SELECT LOCATIONS
Pembroke: 818 W 3rd Street
Fairmont: 421 S Main Street
Red Springs: 122 Cross Street
St. Paul: 210 W Blue Street
Maxton: 4024 Missouri Road
For more information on voter registration eligibility, important election dates and more go to http://www.ncsbe.gov
1. RIGHT TO FISH AND HUNT: Constitutional amendment protecting the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.
2. CHANGES TO CURRENT VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AMENDMENT: Constitutional amendment to strengthen protections for victims of crime; to establish certain absolute basic rights for victims; and to ensure the enforcement of these rights.
3. CAP MAXIMUM STATE INCOME TAX AT 7%: Constitutional amendment to reduce the income tax rate in North Carolina to a maximum allowable rate of seven percent (7%).
4. REQUIRE PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION TO VOTE: Constitutional amendment to require voters to provide photo identification before voting in person.
5. LEGISLATURE TO CONTROL JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS: Constitutional amendment to change the process for filing judicial vacancies that occur between judicial elections from a process in which the Governor has sole appointment power to a process in which the people of the State nominate individuals to fill vacancies by way of a commission comprised of appointees made by the judicial, executive, and legislative branches charged with making recommendations to the legislature as to which nominees are deemed qualified; then the legislature will recommend at least two nominees to the Governor via legislative action not to subject to gubernatorial veto; and the Governor will appoint judges from among these nominees.
DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS OCTOBER 12
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