We, the people, can’t brush off these attempts to win elections through dishonorable legislation. We, the people, are paying attention. …we are contemplating whether their actions and their words are trustworthy and if this breach of expected moral conduct in the NC General Assembly is the very definition of nefarious behavior.  

Dear Neighbor, 

I often write about my five year old granddaughter because those most innocent can provide great wisdom, if you’re paying attention. While taunting her older sister about something, she physically slid by her Sissie, declaring, “I’m not doing anything nefarious.” She knew exactly what she was saying and planning to do and, in my opinion, summed up many actions by the majority in our NC General Assembly. I currently see the majority representatives working diligently to create an unfriendly atmosphere surrounding our voting rights while undermining our safe and secure voting process. It truly is nefarious behavior and one I hope will backfire as regular folk aren’t as dense as some in power may believe. 

Wonder why so many people across NC are stepping forward daily to illuminate anti-voting legislation such as the revival of House Bill 958 and other proposed policies intended to become law? Because those who fear the vote of the people are creating “solutions” to “problems” that don’t actually exist and this is not in the best interest of the people of NC. 

A bit of background; In 2024, after nearly a century of appointment power to election boards by duly elected NC governors, the Republican majority removed that right from newly elected Josh Stein, giving State Auditor Dave Boliek those duties. Red flags went up in concern over future voter access to the polls, and not just from Democrats. 

The revived HB 958 is now one of those concerns. For example, can anyone justify the portion of HB 958 that states that it is in the public interest to prohibit County Board of Elections members and Election Directors from encouraging or promoting voter turnout? I think not. This is a direct and low-minded attempt to not allow those most knowledgeable of the election process to encourage people to vote. It is a move that is a flagrant breach of what should be a high moral standard expected of our elected officials to encourage the people of NC to vote.

There was enough uproar from the general public over this provision and others even more reprehensible that the bill was pulled off the floor for “revisions.” Sadly, those revisions aren’t yet public knowledge and there’s also talk of slipping HB 958 into the yet to be passed budget bill in an attempt to confuse the public. Some things are just wrong, no matter the coverup selected or the party involved. 

The voting public has an obligation as citizens to raise their voices when the office of State Auditor Boliek uses his new found power to demand of local Election Board staff and members (as described by various local Boards of the Election across NC) that you must follow his party line rather than what is best for your county voters. Those actions are truly a nefarious move, particularly as Auditor Boliek takes an oath to be nonpartisan. 

Meanwhile, here at home, a local Rowan Board of Elections member stated repeatedly that he would freely give up his local power as a representative of the people, happy to pass that responsibility on to those in power in Raleigh. Guess he never embraced our Rowan slogan of “be an original!” Or in light of revelations about Raleigh interference, perhaps he’s just toeing his party line.  

We, the people, can’t brush off these attempts to win elections through dishonorable legislation. We, the people, are paying attention. Like Ella’s older sister, we are contemplating whether their actions and their words are trustworthy and if this breach of expected moral conduct in the NC General Assembly is the very definition of nefarious behavior.  

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.