rockin'robin
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RALEIGH -- North Carolina's voter identification law will be enforced for the first time during the March primary election.
"It is the law," said Derek Bowens, New Hanover County elections director.
Passed in 2013 and still the subject of lawsuits challenging its validity, the law will be put to its first test when the state's early voting period begins Thursday.
The law's requirements are in effect and will be applied during this year's elections on March 15, June 7 and Nov. 8.
According to the law, six forms of identification will be acceptable: a North Carolina driver's license; a North Carolina identification card; a U.S. passport; a military identification card; a veterans identification card; and tribal enrollment cards recognized by the federal or state government.
The law allows those without ID to cast provisional ballots if they don't bring an ID with them to vote or declare they have a reasonable impediment to getting an acceptable ID. They include "the lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness or disability," according to the N.C. Board of Elections.
Those who have an ID -- but left it at home -- can show the ID to elections officials later to have their vote officially counted. Those without any ID can provide other forms of ID later to prove their identity.
Free ID cards for voting purposes are also available at state Division of Motor Vehicles offices. To obtain one, a person must present documents confirming their identity.
A list of those documents, along with a host of information about the new law, is available at www.voterid.nc.gov.
There are also exceptions for religious objections and natural disasters. Those over the age of 70 can use an expired photo ID as long as it expired after their 70th birthday, according to the law. Another exception exists for absentee ballots, which do not require a photo ID to be accepted.
The arguments for and against voter ID requirements have long been debated.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20160226/NEWS/160229786
On the pro side, lawmakers -- mostly Republican -- say the requirements are not an undue burden, that they affect a small portion of the population and that they help guard against in-person voter fraud.
Critics note that in-person voter fraud is a rare occurrence and that the real intention behind voter ID laws is to place a barrier in front of predominantly minority and elderly voters who tend to vote Democrat.
"It is the law," said Derek Bowens, New Hanover County elections director.
Passed in 2013 and still the subject of lawsuits challenging its validity, the law will be put to its first test when the state's early voting period begins Thursday.
The law's requirements are in effect and will be applied during this year's elections on March 15, June 7 and Nov. 8.
According to the law, six forms of identification will be acceptable: a North Carolina driver's license; a North Carolina identification card; a U.S. passport; a military identification card; a veterans identification card; and tribal enrollment cards recognized by the federal or state government.
The law allows those without ID to cast provisional ballots if they don't bring an ID with them to vote or declare they have a reasonable impediment to getting an acceptable ID. They include "the lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness or disability," according to the N.C. Board of Elections.
Those who have an ID -- but left it at home -- can show the ID to elections officials later to have their vote officially counted. Those without any ID can provide other forms of ID later to prove their identity.
Free ID cards for voting purposes are also available at state Division of Motor Vehicles offices. To obtain one, a person must present documents confirming their identity.
A list of those documents, along with a host of information about the new law, is available at www.voterid.nc.gov.
There are also exceptions for religious objections and natural disasters. Those over the age of 70 can use an expired photo ID as long as it expired after their 70th birthday, according to the law. Another exception exists for absentee ballots, which do not require a photo ID to be accepted.
The arguments for and against voter ID requirements have long been debated.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20160226/NEWS/160229786
On the pro side, lawmakers -- mostly Republican -- say the requirements are not an undue burden, that they affect a small portion of the population and that they help guard against in-person voter fraud.
Critics note that in-person voter fraud is a rare occurrence and that the real intention behind voter ID laws is to place a barrier in front of predominantly minority and elderly voters who tend to vote Democrat.
