National Commission on Voting Rights

- Fact-Finding Hearing-

Friday, March 28

9 am - 5:30 pm

OIC of Rocky Mount

402 East Virginia St.

Rocky Mount, NC 27802

Last year, extremists in the General Assembly passed HB 589, a blatant attempt to suppress the vote of minorities, the poor, women, students and the elderly.

This monster voter suppression law

cuts early voting days, including 'Souls to the Polls' Sunday voting;

bars counties from counting ballots cast in the wrong precinct;

requires all voters to show a specific form of photo ID;

ends same-day registration and more.

To further understand and document instances of voter suppression and inequities in electoral administration, the North Carolina NAACP, the UNC Center for Civil Rights, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and other coalition partners will host a National Commission on Voting Rights fact-finding hearing on March 28 in Rocky Mount, NC. Advocates for simplified, unfettered voting, community leaders, voters, scholars and NAACP members from across the state will testify as to voter discrimination and election administration issues in North Carolina.

The hearing is slated to run from 9 am to 5:30 pm on Friday, March 28 at the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) at 402 East Virginia St., Rocky Mount, NC. At 9 am, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the NC NAACP, will open the hearing and officially welcome former legislators and legal experts from North Carolina and around the country who will serve as the hearing's commissioners. 

Have you experienced voter discrimination or any obstacles at the ballot box?

Come tell the Commission your story!

Members of the public are invited to attend throughout the day and to offer up to two minutes of personal testimony, if they wish to, during the following open mic times:

10:40 am

11:40 am

12:45 pm

3:05 pm

4:10 pm

5:20 pm

During the hearing, expert witnesses will participate in the following panels:

• History of Voting Rights in North Carolina and the 2012 Election
• Election Administration
• Accessibility Issues
• Impact of New Voting Rules on Minorities in NC
• Impact of New Voting Rules on Students
• Needs of Rural Voters and Impact of HB 589 on Rural Counties

Check out the event flyer HERE!

Can't be there in person? Watch the live stream HERE!

Forward Together, Not One Step Back!