Readers' Voices
Alice CaulderHope Mills
Voters' rights were taken away
In the Feb. 27 Fayetteville Observer, Donnie Sewell reported Tina Odom has filed as a candidate for the N.C. House of Representatives. He further added she listed her residence as Cameron Road, which is out of the town limits of Hope Mills.
Mr. Sewell should have stated why Ms. Odom listed Cameron Road as her residence. The (Cumberland County) Board of Elections changed her registration.
Her right to choose where she resides to vote has been taken away, as well as our rights to choose where we reside to vote. Our right to elect a candidate of our choice was taken away when the Board of Elections trashed our votes.
The Board of Elections does not require any form of ID at the polls for a citizen to vote, yet they will take the right of a taxpaying citizen to choose which of her residences she would like to vote from.
The Board of Elections stated a coffee pot and toilet paper constituted a residence for past (Fayetteville) City Councilman Paul Williams when his residency was challenged after acquiring two residences.
In Ms. Odom's case, the judge never rendered an interpretation of the law. He only stated the Board of Elections did not break any law. He never stated Ms. Odom had broken any law. He just upheld the Board of Elections' decision.
Our past U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole used her mother's address as her residence in North Carolina. She did not break any law. This was her right and freedom of choice to choose her residence for voting. Ms. Odom owns and occupies her residences, and her rights were taken. Her home was inspected by town officials. She complied with all the rules and regulations to become a resident of Hope Mills and was declared a resident and is a resident.
This issue is not about Tina Odom. She's just the only one willing to stand up for her rights. Don't think this can't happen to you. Not only was Ms. Odom's right to choose her residency taken away, but our right to choose our residence has been taken away. As long as Ms. Odom paid her taxes and remained silent, she was allowed to vote at her Legion Road address. As long as Ms. Odom was a candidate for the town board, she was allowed to vote at her Legion Road address. However, when Ms. Odom won the election, she became a target.
If Ms. Odom had not won the election, none of us would know how easily our rights can be taken. Corruption of our government is not only in Washington.
We have sat back and let our government tell us where and when we can pray, where we can reside and trash our votes. The laws have loopholes so they can keep control and use on an as-wanted basis/as-needed basis.
Are we going to continue to let our government repeat mistakes, take our rights, trash our votes and waste our tax dollars?
The time has come when we have to rise up and make our voices heard. Unfortunately, our voices are only heard through votes. I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote in May. Cast your vote for the candidate that will fight for your rights to be exercised, not to be taken away.