NC Senate Update in the Short Session: I | Eastern North Carolina Now

Ensuring Integrity in Elections

    Last year, the General Assembly passed a comprehensive law to require a photo ID at the polls and to reform North Carolina's outdated election code, which hadn't been changed in decades. We crafted these reforms to help provide transparency in our elections and ensure that every vote is counted equally – because the fact is that every time a fraudulent vote is cast, it cancels out a legitimate vote and robs a law-abiding citizen of their constitutional right.

    As part of the reforms, the General Assembly tasked the North Carolina State Board of Elections with improving the accuracy of voter registration lists and combating potential fraud by cross checking information on voting records with those of other states. Their initial findings confirmed our fears of voter error and fraud in North Carolina.

    Based on data from 28 states that participated in a 2014 Interstate Crosscheck – which leaves out potential error and fraud in the 22 states that do not participate in the consortium – the Board found:

   •  765 voters with an exact match of first and last name, DOB and last four digits of SSN were registered in N.C. and another state and voted in N.C. and the other state in the 2012 general election.

   •  35,750 voters with the same first and last name and DOB were registered in N.C. and another state and voted in both states in the 2012 general election.

   •  155,692 voters with the same first and last name, DOB and last four digits of SSN were registered in N.C. and another state – and the latest date of registration or voter activity did not take place within N.C.

   •  Additionally, during an audit of death records from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Board discovered:

   •  50,000 new death records that had not previously been provided to the State Board of Elections.

   •  13,416 deceased voters on the voter rolls in October 2013.

   •  81 deceased voters that had voter activity after they died.

    While it is alarming to hear evidence of widespread voter error and fraud, I am encouraged to see the common-sense law passed to ensure that voters are who they say they are is working. These findings should put to rest ill-informed claims that problems don't exist and help restore the integrity of our elections process, and I appreciate the State Board of Elections bringing this critical information to light. As we move forward, the General Assembly will continue to work to restore transparency to our elections.

N.C. Unemployment Rapidly Dropping

    North Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 6.3 percent in March, according to data released last week by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of people employed increased over 10,000 jobs in the past month, 56,000 over the last year and about 200,000 since Republicans took control of the legislature in 2011.The unemployment rate in North Carolina is below the National unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, for the first time in 8 years, (March, 2006).

Town Hall Meeting on Common Core Standards

    I have scheduled a town hall meeting in Dare County, N.C., for Wednesday, April 23, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is so that I may hear from the general public on the recent implementation of Common Core Standards in the N.C. Public School System. Lindalyn Kakadelis, from the John Locke Foundation will take part in the event by giving a brief review of Common Core Standards. Senator Norman Sanderson (R-District 2) will be present to speak as well. The event is free and open to the general public. It will take place at the First Flight High School: (100 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948).


Contact: Jordan Hennessy
     jordan.hennessy@ncleg.net, •  (252) 619-3606


     300 N. Salisbury Street
     Room 525 • Raleigh, NC 27603

    Phone: (919) 715-8293  •  Fax: (919) 754-3296  •  bill.cook@ncleg.net