Complaints of voter intimidation and incorrectly issued ballots have been reported according to the North Carolina Election Protection Hotline. Many of the complaints have been related to the Amendment One referendum.
Elizabeth Haddix, staff attorney for the UNC Center for Civil Rights, said at least 20 complaints related to incorrect ballots were raised in the first five hours of voting. She said the hot line has received calls from people with these complaints in Orange, Dare, Cleveland, and Cumberland Counties.
“We’ve gotten reports of people and poll workers threatened by people who feel very strongly that Amendment One should pass,” said Haddix.
If passed, the amendment would change the language of the North Carolina Constitution to make marriage between a man and a woman the only union recognized by the state.
Haddix is one of several attorneys coordinating the Election Protection Hotline. The toll-free, nonpartisan phone line is open for voter questions and complaints until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Haddix said she heard of several reports of adult voters receiving ballots without the Amendment One question. Ballots not containing the question are only for voters younger than 18.
In Chatham County, complaints have been made that Democrats in particular were issued ballots without the Amendment One question, Haddix said.
Peter Gilbert, community inclusion attorney fellow for the UNC Center for Civil Rights, said this is the first election the hot line has dealt with content-related complaints.
Gilbert said one incident was reported at the First Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, where a college student was allegedly given a ballot without the Amendment One question.
