NC voter: ‘I have Ohio envy’ | Opinion

Ohio envy

I have Ohio envy. When the gerrymandered Ohio Republican-run legislature ignores the will of the people (like it did with abortion), Ohioans can put an initiative on the ballot allowing the electorate to decide.

Twenty-six states provide for statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures. North Carolina is not one. Only the General Assembly, with 60% of the members’ approval, can put issues on the ballot for a public vote.

With increasingly heavily gerrymandered districts, a veto-proof Republican majority and partisan election of judges, how do the people of North Carolina regain their voice? The ballot initiative may be one way.

Helen Tack, Cary

Justice Newby

It has been reported that N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby was so disturbed by the election of N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls in 2018 that he lost sleep over it.

One would hope that the chief justice might be more disturbed by the extreme gerrymandering by the Republicans in the state legislature, which strips the will of voters in an evenly divided state, than by the seating of a duly elected colleague.

Newby’s willingness to rehear cases recently that were decided under the former Democratic majority makes a mockery of our justice system and is disturbing the sleep of many citizens in North Carolina.

Amy Womble, Raleigh

Raleigh elections

Regarding “Why the Raleigh City Council changed its election dates,”(Nov. 6):

I was on Raleigh City Council and in the room when the vote was taken to move elections to even number years. It was a confusing process and acted upon quickly. I don’t recall it being clearly stated that the change would be permanent.

Most state leaders, including the governor and local legislative delegation, opposed moving the council election, but didn’t stop it because a majority of the council supported it. With the adverse consequences of the election’s outcome apparent, and the “lack of transparency” in which the vote occurred in a closed session still troubling, it is time to consider moving Raleigh City Council elections back to the traditional time period of fall months in odd-numbered years.

David Knight, Raleigh

Don’t sit it out

Regarding “A Trump-Robinson-Bishop ticket could backfire on NC Republicans in 2024,” (Nov. 1):

If voters don’t want the extreme approach to state government offered by the likely 2024 GOP nominees for governor and attorney general, Mark Robinson and Dan Bishop, vote against them no matter who their opponents are.

If you’re not entirely charmed by whomever their Democratic opponents are, take comfort in the knowledge that those opponents will still be far better for the present and future of North Carolina than either Robinson or Bishop.

Sitting out the 2024 election or protest voting for a third-party candidate are not viable options for anyone who wants to see honest, fair executive governance to continue in our state.

James Utt, Cary

Kings of NC

A Nov. 5 letter to the editor said that N.C. legislators and judges are elected, so we deserve what we get. True, but once those elected Republicans arrive at the hallowed halls in Raleigh they do not necessarily represent their constituents. They make policy and laws and vote as they are told by the self-appointed kings of North Carolina, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger. The public is only useful at election time.

Donna Corbett, Sanford

Vote accordingly

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger recently said, “Do you support democracy, or do you not support democracy? That is the one issue on the ballot. Vote accordingly.”

He’s right, especially when it comes to N.C. voters. Too many of our politicians appear to care only about maintaining power and not about the will of the people. House Speaker Tim Moore, who just endorsed Donald Trump despite his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, is one. Voters in our state need to respond accordingly.

We have big issues to tackle in our towns, our state and country, but we cannot fix anything if our voices aren’t heard. Vote like our democracy depends on it. Because it does.

Anne Enberg, Raleigh

This story was originally published November 12, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "NC voter: ‘I have Ohio envy’ | Opinion."