Federal Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against 2018 NC Voter ID Law

The North Carolina 2018 Law, Enacted over the Governor’s Veto, usually requires a Qualifying Photo ID to Vote.

As compared to the Previous ID Law Passed in the wake of Shelby County and Invalidated in 2016, it Expands the List of Acceptable IDs:

- List of 10 Different Types, though with Limits on Student and Government Employee IDs.

- Getting a Free ID, applies to Absentee as well as In-Person Ballots.

- Allows for a Voter with a Reasonable Impediment to getting a Photo ID to say so at the Polls in Order to Vote a Ballot that should Count, if the Administrative Process Works smoothly.

Judge Loretta C. Biggs of U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, which is in the State’s Middle District, issued the Injunction coming just before a Statewide Mailer was set to go out on Dec. 31st, detailing the New Photo ID Requirements for Voters. The District covers 24 Counties in Central North Carolina.

The Court Enjoined the Law as the Product of Discriminatory Intent, but Found that the Proven Impact was, at least at the Preliminary Stage, Insufficient to make out a “Results” Violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

There will be the Inevitable Appeal.

The Injunction comes a year and one week after the N.C. NAACP and various Local Chapters of the NAACP, including the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Chapter, filed their Original Lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and other State Officials. On Dec. 3rd, Attorneys representing the NAACP, asked Biggs in a Court Hearing to Grant a Preliminary Injunction that would Block the Law from taking effect for the March 3rd, 2020 Primary Elections.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker