This week we have a few reminders about previous actions, as well as a new and important call to Congress about War Powers.

Board of Elections’ Proposed Rules

Last week’s action about public comments on the proposed rules by the North Carolina State Board of Elections was complex. Suggestions for commenting on each of the rules can be found on the ICCV website at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/698265e079332c49b5d7dc9d/t/69a4bcd266df2f0625e82d7f/1772403922563/Follow+up+TAT.pdf

Copy and paste or edit as you desire. Please submit comments opposing these rules  no later than March 16, 2026.

Primary Election Day

Today is primary Election Day. If you are currently registered and did not vote during early voting, you can still vote today, but you must vote at your local precinct. You can find your precinct at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/. Once you find your name, scroll down and you will find your precinct and voting location. Polls are open from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm.

Priority Action: War with Iran

On Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, U. S and Israeli forces attacked Iran. President Trump ordered this action unilaterally, without consulting Congress, even though Article 1, Section 8 of the U. S. Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power to declare war. The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires that the president consult Congress before sending troops into harm’s way.  In this instance, the president reportedly advised the Gang of Eight, however, he did not seek Congressional approval. As of this writing, at least six American service members have been killed, and others seriously wounded.  https://www.ms.now/news/three-american-military-personnel-killed-in-u-s-and-israels-operation-against-iran

There have been multiple civilian casualties throughout the region, including 165 people killed when a girls’ school in southern Iran was struck. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/01/iran-school-bombing-death-toll-us-israel-strike

WHAT TO DO

Please contact your elected officials (see HOW TO DO IT below) with the following message:

-              Demand that Congress return to Washington immediately to be briefed on the attack on Iran and the resulting fighting in the region.

-              Insist that Congress retake their power to declare war and enforce the provisions of the 1973 War Powers Resolution.  

HOW TO DO IT

Please use   https://5calls.org/issue/iran-israel-war-us-involvement/ or the above bullet points to contact your elected representatives.  They need to hear from you and from more of us.  Share this information with your family and friends and respond to ICCV if you would like to become more involved in saving our country during a time of peril.

- Senator Thom Tillis: (202) 224-6342

- Senator Ted Budd: (202) 224-3154

- Representative Pat Harrigan: (202) 225-2576

- Representative Virginia Foxx: (202) 225-2071 

To find and contact your state legislators, go to

https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators

Enter your home address to link to contacts for your NC Senator and Representative.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

The president has often boasted that he is the “Peace President.” He promised no new wars and no regime change, before attacking Iran twice in eight months, with an attack on Venezuela in between. https://www.thedailybeast.com/all-the-times-donald-trump-claimed-he-was-the-peace-president-before-bombing-iran/

The Constitution confers the power to declare war exclusively to Congress. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/. However, this President has unilaterally attacked another sovereign country without authorization. This is not only unconstitutional, but the reasoning is unclear. He has not addressed the nation, beyond a short post on Truth Social early Saturday morning, nor has he addressed Congress.

The 1973 War Powers Resolution was designed to ensure that American forces are not placed in harm’s way without careful consideration by both Congress and the Executive Branch. It requires that the President consult with (not simply inform) Congress whenever possible before committing forces to armed conflict. If armed forces are entered into conflict without a formal declaration of war by Congress, the President is required to provide a written justification to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate within 48 hours. There is no indication that this has occurred. https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/542

Additionally, the UN Charter https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text prohibits the “threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,” Article 2(4). Treaties, which have been ratified by the Senate, such as the UN Charter, have the status of federal law.https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-6/

While the Iranian regime is admittedly brutal and repressive, there is no guarantee that removing the Supreme Leader and other senior members of the regime will change anything for the lives of the Iranian people. The Iranian government has already formed an interim council to oversee the transition. Just as in Venezuela, it seems to be a continuation of the previous leadership.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/1/iran-to-form-interim-council-to-oversee-transition-after-khameneis-killing

Trump also claimed that Iran posed an “imminent threat” to American interests without providing any evidence. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/01/trump-promised-no-wars-now-hes-a-bush-style-regime-change-president

The situation is fluid and is escalating rapidly throughout the Middle East. Things may well have changed by the time you receive this action alert, despite our best efforts to provide the most accurate and timely information.

Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy! 

ICCV Legislative Committee                                                                                                              

“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”