Attorneys for Gov. Pat McCrory and N.C. legislators contended in a document filed in federal court on Friday that early voting plans in five counties do not run afoul of a federal appeals court ruling. The response came six days after a group of voters represented by Hillary Clinton’s campaign counsel sought emergency intervention. The voters are represented by Marc Elias, a Washington-based attorney who, in addition to working on Clinton’s campaign, has been involved with a number of high-profile cases challenging voting rights restrictions in recent years. They asked a judge to require the state Board of Elections to modify early voting plans in Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Nash and New Hanover counties. But attorneys for the state argued that the counties – four of which leaned Democratic in the 2012 elections – were within the bounds of a ruling this summer by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that invalidated much of a 2013 elections law overhaul.
In that ruling, the federal appellate judges said the voter ID portion of the overhaul and other limitations on early voting, same-day registration and out-of-precinct voting were set up with “almost surgical precision” to limit the African-American vote.
North Carolina has been described this presidential election year as a battleground state that could swing red or blue, depending on voter turnout.
Full Article: NC governor and legislators argue against allegations early voting plans in 5 counties violate court order | News & Observer.