Common Cause NC launches in-district #UniteNC Town Hall tour to hold state lawmakers accountable for ‘long train of abuses’

RALEIGH — Common Cause NC announced today the first nine stops in a statewide, nonpartisan #UniteNC Town Hall tour in key legislative districts, focused on educating and mobilizing the public in response to a disastrous 2023 legislative session reducing North Carolinians’ access to reproductive healthcare, bodily autonomy, budget resources, public schools, environmental protection, and the core hallmarks of Tar Heel democracy.

Kicking off in Mint Hill on Thursday, July 20, each town hall will (1) educate the public on what happened in the General Assembly, (2) give attendees the chance to ask questions or share their testimony, and (3) ask for lawmakers to attend, listen, and explain their positions. The Mint Hill Town Hall will feature invitations to the area’s elected officials, including Rep. Tricia Cotham (HD-112) and Sen. Joyce Waddell (SD-40).

“Some state lawmakers are hell-bent on dismantling our democracy, rushing through new restrictions on popular voting options and manipulating their districts for partisan gain,” said Gino Nuzzolillo, Campaigns Manager at Common Cause North Carolina. “Their unchecked power enables their behind-closed-doors assault on bodily autonomy, the environment, those living in poverty, our kids, and more. The #UniteNC Town Hall will remind lawmakers who they work for — and remind the public that we’re putting people over party in 2024.”

Common Cause NC is joined on this tour by statewide and local partners. A full list of sponsoring organizations can be found HERE.

The tour’s launch takes place amid the North Carolina General Assembly’s consideration of legislation like Senate Bills 747 and 749 and House Bill 772, which threaten to restrict mail-in voting and gut Same Day Registration and Early Voting. In the fall, lawmakers are expected to embark on another round of redistricting, absent crucial protections against partisan gerrymandering taken away by the state Supreme Court in April 2023.

Members of the public can RSVP to attend a town hall in their area by going to ccnc.me/UniteNC. The first slate of town halls will visit Mint Hill, Carthage, High Point, Gibsonville, Fayetteville, Wentworth, Concord, Wilmington, and Salisbury. More locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Common Cause North Carolina is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.