North Carolina Election Official Refuses to Put Marriage Up for Vote

[William769]

A North Carolina supervisor of elections has quit her job rather than put a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot there.

Sherre Toler had been Director of Elections in Harnett County for 11 years before she submitted her resignation on January 3, saying she could no longer act objectively, as the law required her.

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,'" she noted in her resignation letter, as posted on Pam's House Blend. "I simply could not continue in the position of Director of Elections and remain silent on this important issue."

Toler cites the 1967 Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia, which dealt with the legality of a marriage between a mixed-race couple as part of what gives her such a principled view, having been in a relationship with a man of another race herself. (Read more about the case here.)

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/01/11/North_Carolina_Election_Official_Refuses_to_Put_Marriage_Up_for_Vote/

[Angry Dragon]

1. It is too bad people have to lose their jobs

because they have principles

[stevenleser]

2. This should be cross-posted to GD, IMHO.

Sherre is on facebook and I just sent her a note of support.

[William769]

3. Be my guest.

I myself will never cross post again.

[stevenleser]

4. I can't say I blame you. OK, doing it now. n/t

[HillWilliam]

5. I did take it to the Donkey OD group on FB

One of the group members there is a former election official. She appreciated the story from that perspective.

[William769]

6. Good for you.

Glad it was useful.

[HillWilliam]

8. That's pretty active (if rather small) group of Dems

a group of about 80, most of us have been in conversation for a good 10 years. It's a hidden group, so if anyone wants an invite, PM me.

[MarkCharles]

7. This should be national main stream news.

I just can't understand why this is no getting coverage.