RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s newly seated Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether people convicted of felonies — tens of thousands statewide — should be permitted to vote if they aren’t in prison but still are serving probation or parole or have yet to pay fines. The justices listened to their first high-profile case since the court flipped to Republican control in January, after a Democratic majority for the past six years. They didn't immediately rule. The court's two new Republican justices featured prominently in an hour of questioning over 2019 litigation from civil rights groups and ex-offenders who challenged a 1973 state law automatically restoring voting rights only after the “unconditional discharge of an inmate, of a probationer, or of a parolee.” The law is in place because the state constitution says one is needed to overcome the state's blanket voting prohibition for felony offenders. Last year, a majority of trial judges agreed with the plaintiffs that keeping felony offenders who aren't behind bars but are still under state supervision from registering to vote disproportionately harmed Black offenders and violated the constitution's equal protection and free election clauses. Their rulings told election officials they can’t deny voter registration to any convicted felon who is on probation, parole or post-release supervision. At the time of the 2021 trial, over 56,000 people on probation, parole or supervision were estimated to be affected by the law -- compared to the state’s 7.2 million registered voters. The ruling gave these types of offenders the option to register to vote and cast ballots, with most of them getting that chance this past November. Some people who had only fines yet to pay also have been able to register to vote since 2020. New Associate Justices Richard Dietz and Trey Allen — among the five Republicans now on the seven-member court — questioned whether the trial judges were wrong to pick and choose which portions of the law they believed were biased and strike them out. “The courts can’t grant the restoration of voting rights to felons,” Allen told plaintiffs’ attorney Stanton Jones. “The constitution expressly provided that those rights can only be restored in a manner prescribed by law, and the authority to adopt such a law rests with the General Assembly, not with any court.” But Jones told Dietz, "The trial court properly enjoined only the racially discriminatory aspect of the law here, which was the denial of the franchise to people who are living in the community.” The trial judges accepted arguments of trial witnesses that the 1973 law remained rooted in Reconstruction-era efforts by white politicians to intentionally prevent Black residents from voting. Republican legislative leaders defending the law acknowledged the state’s voter suppression history but argued the changes made in the early 1970s — when the General Assembly was overwhelmingly Democratic — were hardly racist. Their attorneys told the court in briefs that the changes championed by the General Assembly’s few Black lawmakers at the time actually made it easier for felony offenders to vote by doing away with the requirement that they ask a judge to restore those rights, making it automatic after all penalties are complete. “Something has gone awry when a signature achievement of the civil rights movement is invalidated on the basis of racial discrimination,” argued Peter Patterson, the GOP legislators’ attorney. The plaintiffs presented evidence at trial that showed African Americans are denied the right to vote due to the felony supervision limits at nearly three times the rate of white felony offenders. But that has nothing to do with the law itself, Patterson said. The law treats all convicted felons the same regardless of race, he added. But Jones said under that type of logic a poll tax or literacy test — both used during the Jim Crow era to prevent Black residents from voting — would be lawful simply because a law's text was racially neutral. Daryl Atkinson, another attorney for the plaintiffs, told the justices that court fees, fines and other costs that a felony offender must pay in order to obtain their unconditional discharge equates to a property qualification to obtain a political right that the state constitution prohibits. The median amount that North Carolina probationers owe is over $2,400, Atkinson said, and failing to pay “results in a multiyear extension of their disenfranchisement.” Chief Justice Paul Newby, a Republican, questioned the broadness of Atkinson's definition of property given the history of the state's constitution. But Atkinson argued the constitution's framers “envisioned that wealth would not be an exclusionary factor to being able to be a participant in the body politic.” Opinions by the 4-3 Democratic majority on the court during the past two years blocked several laws or actions backed by the GOP-controlled General Assembly. They struck down redistricting plans drawn by legislators and the state’s latest photo voter identification law.

Greetings and Welcome to Liberty First Grassroots Legislative Action Days (LFGLAD). NC & your local area benefits by your attendance today. Your presence today is our civic duty to petition our government and is a way to keep everyone accountable to a Constitutional Government. Let’s get started and answer your first questions: · Meet some of the area grassroots organizations as you visit their tables. Each organization has a message they want to share with your legislators. · Find out who your legislator is by going to ncleg.gov. Or there is a master sheet at LFG Table for you to glance and find them as well. · LFG Main table will have Map of the building, a list of House and Senate Legislators, their room & telephone number. Take one. · With material in hand, you are ready to visit your legislator. They are either in a room with 4 digits 1001, or 3 digits 202. 4 digit rooms are in the legislative building facing Jones St., across from Bicentennial Plaza where you are standing. 3 digit room numbers are in the Legislative Office Building behind it. There is a walkway to and from the buildings. · The first building on 16 W Jones St. (4 digit room numbers, map in hand) has lots of tables and chairs in 4 open lobby areas. If you need a spot to bring your plan of visiting your legislator together, this would be a great area to do that. · SUGGESTIONS: You can familiarize yourself with legislators by visiting their fb page or website. · PROCESS With Pen and Paper in hand, with a handout(s) from one of the groups, Name of your Legislator, Room number, you are ready. Once you are ready to enter the Legislator’s office, have your materials prepared with written comments, have a quick greeting and message ready to share. As you enter the office look at the office aide’s name on their desk and begin to share your message. “Hi, John/Sally, Rep ------- ----- is my House (or Senator)Representative and I would like to speak with them if they are available. (If they reply not available) then share this information with them. I’m very supportive (or not supportive) of blah blah. Please give them this information. I want to thank you and Rep or Senator Blah Blah for serving my district.” That is as simple as it can be and of course, keeping it graceful and non-confrontative you can go into more details regarding any of your concerns on issues. More in depth concerns can be written on the handout and left with the aide. · Smile and connect with legislators and their staff. Being real and being friendly can break down barriers and make sure conversations start on the right foot. · Follow up is a great step to keep the accountability growing between you and your legislator. Return home and begin to expand your knowledge with factual talking points for your next Legislative Action Day. President Pro Tem of the Senate Phil Berger 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 2007 Raleigh, NC 27601 The officer elected by the Senate to preside in the absence of the Senate President and to exercise other duties set out in the Senate Rules. Speaker of the House Tim Moore 16 West Jones Street, Rm. 2304 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096 919-733-3451 Return often or add these dates to your calendar and Join Liberty First Grassroots bringing you new materials and updates as they track bills. They will be on the 2nd THURSDAY of the month from now til June. March 9thThursday 10-3pm April 13th same time May 11th June 8th

Grass Roots North Carolina / Forum For Firearms Education Post Office Box 10665, Raleigh, NC 27605 877.282.0939 (Phone) 919.573.0354 (Fax) www.GRNC.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release date: February 16, 2023 Purchase permit repeal and church carry pass NC Senate [RALEIGH] Senate Bill 41 containing both repeal of our archaic Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit law and the provision to allow concealed carry in churches which sponsor schools passed the NC Senate today by an overwhelming margin of 29-19. The pistol purchase permit repeal, if enacted, will prevent urban sheriffs from abusing the system by arbitrarily denying lawful citizens the ability to buy handguns for self-protection. As an enhancement to public safety, it will mean that background checks for handgun purchases from dealers will be done at the time and point of sale rather than up to five years earlier as they are now. The provision to allow concealed carry in churches which sponsor schools is widely supported by pastors, several of which testified in favor of the legislation to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Under current law, otherwise lawful concealed carry becomes a Class I felony if the church sponsors a school. The provision in SB 41 will allow concealed handgun permit-holders to carry firearms in those churches provided school curricular or extra-curricular activities are not in session. Although left-leaning media have attempted to claim it would apply to public schools which allow religious groups to meet, in truth the bill exempts properties owned by school boards or county commissions, as well as institutions of higher education. Said GRNC president Paul Valone: “Grass Roots North Carolina would like to thank Senate Republicans – particularly Senators Danny Britt, Warren Daniel, and Ralph Hise – for a highly organized effort in not only passing legislation long sought by North Carolina gun rights supporters, but in deflecting attempts by opponents of the Second Amendment to amend the bill by including various gun control measures. In particular, we thank them for rejecting unconstitutional “red flag” gun confiscation schemes by which people’s guns can be confiscated, with little or no evidence or wrongdoing, in “ex parte” hearings they might not even know take place, denying them due process of law. “If enacted, the bill will remove yet another of the ostensibly “gun free” zones that attract mass killers. That measure, plus removing obstructions placed by certain sheriffs on the ability of lawful North Carolinians to buy handguns for self-protection, will vastly improve safety in our state.” Founded in 1994, Grass Roots North Carolina is an all-volunteer 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to preserving individual liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights with emphasis on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. ####################################################################

Rare GOP Win at State Election Board February 17, 2023 Feb 17, 2023 (Raleigh) By now, you may have heard the news that both Republicans on the Surry County of Elections (CBE) were under fire and about to be removed from their jobs after a coalition of left-wing activist groups accused them of “violating their oath of office,” but something happened at the hearing inquisition in Raleigh and State Board of Elections (SBE) Counsel, Paul Cox, took a major hit to his credibility. https://voterintegrityproject.com/rare-gop-win-at-state-election-board/

Congratulations! You helped pass HR 23 to ‘Defund the IRS!’ This is Big! This is Huge! This is Amazing! You Did It!!! This bill cut spending by 90%, rescinding $71.6 billion of the $79.6 billion in additional funds appropriated for activities of the IRS under H.R. 5376, commonly called the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (IRA). The rescinded funds include all additional funds originally appropriated for enforcement activities. But we won’t stop here! We need your help to hold the IRS accountable, further reduce funding, and restrict increased financial surveillance. We’ve updated our campaign to support new companion bills! YES on HR203 No Hires for the Delinquent IRS Act; HR888 IRS Funding Accountability Act; HR1010 Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act; S123 BAD IRS Activities Act Blocking the Adverse and Dramatic Increased Reliance on Surveillance Activities Act; S338 IRS Funding Accountability Act; and US S453 Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act. Call on Congress to prevent IRS targeting and weaponizing against middle class families.

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina passed a repeal of a “Jim Crow”-era gun law last week that was initially intended to prevent black Americans from owning firearms, and Democratic lawmakers are livid. The bill, SB 41, would repeal the state’s pistol purchase permit requirement that tasks local sheriffs with ensuring residents have “good moral character” before they are issued a firearm. The law, established in 1919, was intended to circumvent the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, which required that gun control laws be racially neutral, according to attorney and historian options in the North Carolina Law Review. States circumvented the Fourteenth Amendment by implementing permitting requirements, or banning handguns altogether – opting to allow “special deputies” or white men to own guns, according to the review. Many other states, such as Florida and New York also chose to implement permitting requirements to circumvent the Fourteenth Amendment. “Overall, despite the North Carolina permit system appearing racially neutral on its face, when taken in context with the actions of surrounding states and the attitudes regarding minorities at the time of enactment, the permit system’s intention was to keep minorities from possessing handguns,” according to the review. Today, black North Carolinians are still nearly three times as likely to be denied a permit compared to the white population, according to the North Carolina Law Review. Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed an iteration of the bill in 2021. “The sheriffs know best back home who should and should not be carrying a pistol,” Democratic North Carolina state Rep. Pricey Harrison said. “There’s so much more we could be doing about keeping our communities safe. But unleashing and letting access to guns to individuals who absolutely pose a danger to themselves and others is a real problem.” Harrison feared the overturn of the law will lead to loopholes that enable dangerous criminals and those with mental health issues to easily obtain firearms, according to NPR affiliate WFAE 90.7. Alongside the pistol permit requirement, the bill would also allow for firearm carry in churches, according to the legislation. The church carry debate has recently been taken to the courts, with a federal judge ruling in December that it is unconstitutional to prevent law-abiding citizens from carrying in houses of worship. Democratic North Carolina state Sen. Natasha Marcus said the bill “is the antithesis of common-sense gun reform,” according to the Coastland Times. “It’s a relinquishment of our job to protect North Carolinians from violence.” “This bill is about making our communities less safe and has absolutely nothing to do with racial equality,” Democratic North Carolina State Sen. Natalie Murdock said, according to the Coastland Times. “It will in fact make Black communities less safe.” Republican lawmakers and Second Amendment advocacy groups criticized the law in 2020 after Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker suspended permit applications during the pandemic, according to the Washington Examiner. The suspension led to a lawsuit, and Baker was forced to pay damages. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Continue reading

Parental Bill of Rights in All 50 States: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/24/1165592471/what-a-house-gop-messaging-bill-could-spell-for-2024-culture-war-campaign Bill Language: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6056 How Grassroots is Taking Parental Power Back Act for America | 04/07/23 Dear Jane, Last week we announced a major victory, passing a US Parents Bill of Rights Act Bill HR5 in the House. ONE WEEK LATER, we acted 3 million times, increasing from 15 million to 18 million actions! Thanks to people like you, we hit over 100 million total actions taken last week! America Wants a Parental Bill of Rights! Act for America has been fighting for Parents and Children for two years now. It all began with Governor DeSantis working with the Florida state legislature to craft and pass the first parental rights bill in the nation. Act for America members took this model legislation to the other 49 states and Congress, and people like you acted over 18 MILLION TIMES, sending shockwaves through the halls of your state capitol all the way to The Hill! Nationwide Legislative Update In 2022, ONE bill in ONE state sparked three additional states to jump in and pass a Parental Rights bill thanks to tremendous grassroots pressure. The four states protecting parent’s rights include: Arizona HB2161, HB2439; Florida HB1557, HB1467; Georgia HB1178; and Louisiana HB369. This year grassroots pressure resulted in 24 states with pending Parental Rights legislation including: Arizona HB2533, HB2786, SB1703, SB1005, SCR1025; Arkansas HB1738; Hawaii SB1428, HB519; Indiana SB0413; Iowa SF496, SSB1145, HSB222; Massachusetts H458; Minnesota SF3032, HF1590, SF1452, HF353, SF76; Mississippi HB509, SB2764, SB2761; Missouri SB4, SB451, HB627, SB158, SJR6, SB89; Montana SB337; Nebraska LB374; New Hampshire SB272, HB10; New Jersey A5110, S2483, A3895; North Carolina S49, S74, H58; Ohio HB8, Oklahoma SB131, HB1781, HB2670; Pennsylvania HB319; Rhode Island H5688, S0414; South Carolina S0234, H3197, H3485; Texas SB8, HB5261, SB981, SB393; Virginia SB1199, SB832; Washington SB5024, HB1601; West Virginia SB655, HB3118; and Wyoming SF0117. The following states have successfully passed legislation in one chamber and crossed over and need extra help to get their bills across the finishing line! These states include Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Texas. In Texas the SB8 Parental Bill of Rights includes a Universal School Choice piece which passed in the Senate but has been stalled in the House, who is arguing for more limitations. It’s time for a BIG PUSH! Call on your state representatives to Protect Parental Rights today calling for introduction &/or passage of a bill! We need legislation in all 50 states to prevent school boards and teachers’ unions from hiding information from parents on curriculum, supplemental materials, and gender fluidity policies that are designed to influence and indoctrinate young children. Jane, you are making a difference and we are so thankful for you. Together we are making history! Let’s ACT NOW and help pass this bill in the Senate and every state while the winds are in our favor! “The family has always been the cornerstone of American society. Our families nurture, preserve, and pass on to each succeeding generation the values we share and cherish, values that are the foundation of our freedoms.” - Ronald Reagan Stronger together! ACT for America Education, a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible. 869 Lynnhaven Pkwy, 113 #411 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 USA Contribute | Charity Navigator | Unsubscribe

Good news this morning! Our Poll Observer bill has sponsors. Link to the bill: H 772 Poll Observer, Appointment, Access & Activity. The bill is in the Committee on Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform. Primary Sponsors: Reps Davis; Cleveland; Mills; Warren Co-Sponsors: Blackwell; Cairns; Clampitt; Kidwell; McNeely; Miller; Riddell Call the Sponsors Reps Davis; Cleveland; Mills; Warren and co-sponsors Blackwell; Cairns; Clampitt; Kidwell; McNeely; Miller; Riddell (especially if any of them are in your district) Call Chair of Election Law and Campaign Finance Committee, Rep Grey Mills Tell them TO INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE. vote to get this out of committee and on to the Judiciary 1, and then on to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House The bill includes ALL of our recommendations except the phrase "have mobility about the voting enclosure." This is a big deal. Our observers were behind chains in 2022 because the NCSBE interpreted the statutes to mean we are restricted. We need specific language to avoid this situation. We need mobility to observe various stations without interfering with voters. Call the above reps and insist that they include this language. The rest of the bill looks fine with no other changes. Link to the action on the bill and where it's going next: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/h%20772

Film: Nefarious. IT'S STILL PLAYING thanks to all of you who attended. Spread the word and get there. It's billed as a horror movie, but it has a Christian theme. It deals with the current breakdown of society which is demonic in nature. Watch the Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aWJN5H7Ycw&t=7s Show time at 3PM, Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the Carolina Cinemark Theater, 1640 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville. Link for tickets here.https://www.nefarioustickets.com/ If enough show up for the show, they may hold it over. Show time 12:55PM, 3:45PM, 6:35PM and 9:20PM at the Regal Biltmore Grand Theater, 292 Thetford Street, Asheville. Tickets at Nefarious.com or regalmovies.com Direct Link to ticket page: https://www.regmovies.com/movies/nefarious/ho00014054#/buy-tickets-by-film-for-cinemas?at=2023-04-14&for-movie=ho00014054&view-mode=list

Submitted by Jay Delancy, Voter Integrity Project/NCEIT There have been a lot of complaints about the recent SBE "Top Ten" fact list about voter ID and I've had to explain that the email is an accurate representation of our voter ID law, as written by David Lewis and passed in both chambers with a veto-proof majority. Page 53 of the recent NC Supreme Court ruling which reinstated SB 824, which was also known as State Law 2018-144 (SL 2018-144). All of the bad provisions in that law were hacked out between the GA and Kim Strach, a McCrory appointee as Executive Director of the State Board of Elections (SBE). As much as we hated the bill, there was one provision that made me extremely happy: Statewide at-large poll observers. You can read all about it, starting at the top of page 14 in SL 2018-144. Here is the key sentence: " The chair of each political party in the State shall have the right to designate up to 100 additional at-large observers who are residents of the State who may attend any voting place in the State." Since this law is officially in force, I suggest it would be a useful exercise to target a few key municipal races in counties that historically have a hard time recruiting Republican poll observers. Robseon and Durham come to mind the quickest, but I'm sure Jane has some problem counties in WNC. Before Covid killed him, the late Sen RL Clark used to carry on about Yancey County

The North Carolina Election Integrity Team's next Legislative Action Day is Thursday, May 18th, 2023 in Raleigh @9:30AM - 3PM to lobby our representatives to pass election integrity bills. Information of where to meet is here. HOWEVER, each week, ALL of us should be making phone calls into the committee chairs of where our bills reside These bills need to be voted on in committee and moved on so we get them to the floor for a vote. Also, we now have a super majority in the House and Senate which means we can override Cooper's veto. We have tried to break down the list of bills by priority each week. It 's a few phone calls. Very doable. We've working hard to simplify. PLEASE DO YOUR PART. Thanks Denise, Joanne and Lisa for putting all of this together! Dear Friend and Patriot, Thank you for your interest in promoting legislation to improve Election Integrity in NC! Below is information explaining how to make a Lobbying call. Priority Election Bills in the NC Legislature have been identified by the NC Election Integrity (NCEIT) Legislative Team. Talking points and how to contact individual legislators to promote these bills can be found in the Attachments. This week we are targeting two Legislative Bills NCEIT Legislative Call to Action - Call List 1 There are many election integrity bills in the North Carolina General Assembly. NCEIT supports many of them and this week we would like to concentrate on two important bills. Call your legislators shown below to get these bills to move through the process. See the 3 types of calls you can make. • Poll Observers - House Bill 772 and • Access to Voted Ballots (Cast Vote Records) - House Bill 770 These bills which were submitted by House Republicans include the language suggested by NCEIT. We would like you to contact legislators to let them know YOU support H 772 and H 770 and ask them to move the bills along in the process. 1. These are the sponsors of the bills - thank them and let them know you support the bills. H 772 Poll Observer Davis; Cleveland; Mills; Warren (Primary) See the bill here https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/HouseStanding/21 H 770 Access to Ballots Davis; Cleveland; Mills; Warren (Primary) Cairns; Fontenot; Humphrey; Kidwell; McNeely; Willis See the bill here https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/h770 2. These are committee members who will vote on the bills– let them know you support the bills. because they are important election integrity measures (use your own words). a. Ask members of the House Election Law & Campaign Finance Reform Committee to pass H 772 and H 770 in their committee. Chairman Mills, Rep. Warren, Rep. K. Baker, Rep. Riddell, Rep. Davis,Rep. Ward, Rep. Willis,Rep. Cotham, Rep. Biggs, Rep. Blackwell, Rep. Faircloth, Rep. Zenger. Rep. Iler, Rep. Dixon b. Ask members of the Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee to be a SPONSOR for similar bills in the Senate to H 772 and H 770. Chairman Hise, Chairman Newton, Chairman Daniel, Senator Krawiek, Senator Sanderson, Senator Perry, Senator Galey, Senator Ford, Senator Rabon, Senator Jackson 3. Let your House and Senate legislators know that you support these bills. You can identify your NC House and Senate members with this link https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators. Click on the name and it usually brings you to a page with contact info. If it does not, use these links to find the contact info and click on their name. House https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/MemberList/H Senate https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/MemberList/S Talking points to show why you support the bill - select a 1 or 2 to highlight for the legislators. H 772 Poll Observers - Poll Observers have been unnecessarily restricted in virtually all early voting sites and precincts. Observers have been prevented from moving freely around the voting enclosure, observing start up and shut down procedures, viewing and imaging zero poll tapes on tabulation machines, viewing Authorizations to Vote (ATVs) and tabulators for example. Also audio recordings with poll workers and photographs of machines and voting enclosures excluding voters and poll workers have not been allowed. See this link to the bill: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/House/PDF/H772v1.pdf · A new section has been added that lists 19 activities that observers are permitted to do which addresses problems observed in the 2022 election. (If you have been an observer and were not allowed to perform an activity, you could highlight that. If you were not an observer, you could pick one or two you like.) · There is also a list of 8 activities that are not permitted by observers, so they do not interfere with the voting process. H 770 Access to Voted Ballots (Cast Vote Records) - The State Board of Elections has denied requests from the public for Cast Voter Records while other states provide them. Cast Vote Records are needed to increase voter confidence by allowing verification of machine counts of ballots. See this link to the bill: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/h770 · Public records requests for Cast Vote Records have been denied by the NC State Board of Elections based on confidentiality. They have been available in other states. The bill provides access to the public of cast vote records through public records requests. · Access to Cast Vote Records is needed for inspection and verification of machine counts of ballots, so they can be matched to the machine’s printed reports. Without this access, voters lose confidence in the accuracy of machines and the outcomes of elections. · The bill requires voting systems to create and maintain cast vote records. Each week there will be different priorities to make calls. You can start with this list and work through the others, as you have time. Thank you for your time to protect election integrity. ************************************************************************* Basic Call (In-person or phone message): Familiarize yourself with List 1 attachment. Click on the representative or senator’s name in blue in the attached file. The file is hot-linked to the legislator's contact information. Make the Call. #1 Introduce yourself (Name, address, contact phone). #2 Why you are calling: To ASSURE Election Integrity in NC (your words). #3 Thank you _______ for your Sponsorship/Support of ____________ (give Bill Number and then Name. If several, list them). Choose your message based upon your experience as a voter, poll observer or based upon the talking points listed for the bill (See Attachment). #4 Thank the Representative/Senator for his/her service. #5 Close: We are praying for you and your staff ! ******************************************* CALLS FOR THIS WEEK will target: - H770: Access to Voted Ballots - H772: Poll Observers Appointments, Access and Activity. See these BILLs in the ATTACHMENT: Announcement LEG Call List 1. ( This Thursday, May 18th is NCEIT's monthly Legislative Action Day. Volunteers will be lobbying our legislators in-person in Raleigh. Our calls will augment their efforts with a "buzz" of calls and demonstration of public interest. ) Next week there will be a new directive! Look for it every Monday morning! General Information regarding Bills currently in the NC Legislature and the Phone Lobby: - There are currently over 60 Election Bills introduced in our State Legislature this session. - Bills will move through 3-4 committees on average before they will be voted upon by the General Assembly (GA). If bills are not moved through committees they will not be brought to a vote in the GA and will have no chance of becoming law before the 2024 Presidential Election. - The NEXT several weeks are about getting STRONG Election Integrity Bills on the calendar! - We request you commit one hour weekly until the legislative session ends (August). - Best time to call? Monday-Thursday 9-5 . (BUT Friday or weekend calls are better than not calling!) You will likely speak to a staffer. This is worthwhile! These representatives and their staff support our effort! Our job is to help keep attention on the importance of this particular legislation. Call weekly. Be persistent and polite. You will receive an email update on priorities as they are identified including: Bill names and numbers, whom to call, links to legislators phone numbers, and talking points. ********************************************************* To help build an effective phone lobby for this legislative session PLEASE do 3 things: #1 JOIN the NC Election Integrity Team, at . Membership is Free. You will be vetted and will be notified of acceptance in 2-3 days . #2 Review the information and make calls weekly. (The anticipated commitment is one hour weekly from now into August.) #3 Expand our ranks! Share this with other like-minded citizens! THANK YOU!! NC Election Integrity Team Questions? Call Denise Vish, 828 545-9776 and leave a message or email .

NCEIT Assessment & Recommendations- Senate Bill 747 What's Right. What's Wrong (see below) S747- Senate Omnibus Elections Bill. Sponsors- Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen Paul Newton, Sen. Warren Daniel (Co-Chairs of Senate Redistricting & Elections Committee); Co-Sponsors- Sen. Todd Johnson, Sen. Benton Sawrey Web Link: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/S747 Status: Currently in the Committee for Rules and Operations of the Senate. Important Election Integrity Improvements in this Bill: 1. New provisions for identifying and removing foreign nationals from Voter Rolls- Part III, Pages 5-8, of S747 comprehensively addresses methods for the identification and removal of foreign nationals discovered through jury duty excusals and who also appear on our voter rolls. This is an important quality control measure for voter list maintenance. 2. Prohibits Bar Coding of Absentee Ballot Request Forms by Private Organizations- Part V, Page 9 of the bill addresses barcodes on ballot request forms. Today, hundreds of non-profits and partisan political organizations provide millions of unsolicited absentee ballot request forms to prospective voters across the USA. Many of these forms are pre-populated with voter information and contain bar codes for the private organization’s tracking purposes. Use of these barcoded forms violates the spirit and intent of NCGS 163-237(d6), a Class G felony. S747 makes it crystal clear that ballot request forms may NOT be barcoded for private organizations to prematurely ascertain which registrants are voting by mail. 3. Persons using same day registration & voting will receive/vote a Provisional Ballot- Part VIII of the bill, page 10, provides two conditions under which a person may register and vote on the same day by provisional ballot. This is a substantial change from the current process in which a person may register and vote by a regular ballot and have that ballot accepted immediately, prior to verification of the registration address. This provision enables the local board of elections and concerned citizens the time to perform voter verification prior to the ballot being counted at canvass. 4. Provides for citizen inspection of Container Return Envelopes- Part IV, page 8 of the bill is intended to allow access to container return envelopes for inspection by private citizens during county board of elections absentee ballot meetings. (Note- the language in this bill needs refinement- see “Important Corrections & Additions” below. 5. Provides for citizen challenges of unauthorized absentee ballots- Part X, page 11 of the bill gives every eligible voter in every county jurisdiction to file a challenge for any absentee ballot submitted in that county. At present, the challenges are restricted to voters who live in the same precinct of the challenged absentee ballot. 6. Provides means for rigorous signature verification- Part XII, page 11 of the bill requires county boards of election to use signature verification software to verify voter signatures on absentee (mail-in) ballots. 7. Compels partisan representation at early voting sites- Part XIII, pages 11-12 of the bill ensures partisan election officials will be present during all days of one-stop early voting (EV). This is a substantial change from present practices, in which each EV site has a site administrator and no partisan representation is required. This change is well-intentioned, but the language in the S747 is not explicit as to which election officials it intended to address and how they are to be allocated. See the language proposed in “Important Corrections and Additions” below. 8. All ballots must be received by 7:30PM on election day- Part I, pages 1-4 of the bill addresses election day integrity requirements. It modifies previous rules that allowed the acceptance of mail-in absentee ballots for up to several days following the election so long as the return envelopes were date stamped as of election day. The change requires all ballots to be mailed in such manner as to be received by 7:30PM on election day to be counted. The change reduces the risk of absentee ballot fraud and accelerates the counting of all regular ballots on election day. 9. Disallows private funding of election processes- Part II, page 4 of the bill, prohibits local boards of elections and county commissioners from accepting private funding, either directly or indirectly, for election operations. This will help prevent the influence of private organizations on local and statewide election operations. 10. Extends retention of election records to 22 months- Part VI, pages 9-10 of the bill require the retention of voting records and archives of elections for a period of 22 months. At present, the retention is just 6-12 months for many records. Extending the records retention to 22 months helps ensure post-election audits can be conducted thoroughly and effectively. Important Corrections & Additions Needed for S747: Senate Bill 747 Reference: Related Statute & Correction Needed in S747, with Rationale PART IV- Inspectable Absentee Ballot Envelopes NCGS 163-230.1(f); The final sentence in the proposed language is misstated and inconsistent with many other statutory provisions concerning privacy of ballots. Lines 49-51 ought instead to read: “At these meetings, the county board of elections shall inspect each container-return envelope prior to approving the application and accepting the ballot for counting purposes. Upon approval of the county board of elections, each container-return envelope shall immediately be available for public inspection.” Public access to container-return envelopes is essential for confidence in mail-in voting processes, which are largely unsupervised at present. PART VIII- Require Provisional Ballot for Same Day Registration NCGS 163-82.6(b); The new provision is vague and ambiguous. Lines 34-35 ought instead to read: “However, the individual shall only be eligible to vote by provisional ballot and the ballot counted under one of the following two circumstances:” PART XIII- Ensure Precinct Officials One-Stop Places are allocated the same as those serving on election day NCGS 163-227.6(a); The new provision is vague and ambiguous. Lines 42-43 ought instead to read: “Chief Judges and Judges shall be appointed and allocated to one-stop voting places in the same manner as precinct election officials for election day. The appointment and scheduling of these election officials for each location and day of one-stop early voting shall be consistent with NCGS 163-41(c) and (d).” PART XX- Require Two-Factor Authentication Process/Mail-In Absentee Ballots NCGS 163-231.1; This new provision mis-applies a technical term (two-factor authentication), normally used for internet security, to the process for accepting and counting mail-in ballots. NCGS 163-231 already describes the methods for delivering container-return envelopes in-person or by mail. If the intent of Part XX is to assure each envelope and ballot are legitimate, then the process for ascertaining the legitimacy should be described in detail. Recommend striking this provision unless more descriptive language can be provided. Not Addressed in S747- Permitted Poll Observer Activities NCGS 163-45(c); Permitted Poll Observer Activities are not addressed in S747. Substantive differences across the 2000+ NC precincts in interpreting the provisions of NCGS 163-45(c) have led to innumerable disruptions and complaints in virtually every county. NCGS 163-45(c) requires detailed elaboration to ensure uniform application of the law and reduced conflicts during election operations. House Bill 772 provides substantive elaboration to the existing statute clarifying the spirit and intent of the General Assembly for poll observer activities and limitations. Recommend incorporating all of the H772 provisions into S747. Not Addressed in S747- Access to Cast Vote Records (CVRs) NCGS 163-165; Nowhere in the NCGS is there a provision for granting pubic access to cast vote records (CVRs) as is permitted in 28 other states. House Bill 770 provides important additional voting definitions, makes CVRs available for public release, and requires all tabulation machines acquired for voting purposes to have the capability to produce CVRs. These CVRs are essential for building public confidence in election results and for enabling future audits of election results. Recommend incorporating all of the H770 provisions into S747.