Republican leaders in the North Carolina House unveiled details of their long-awaited Voter ID bill Thursday. The measure would require most North Carolinians to bring photo identification with them to the polls, beginning in 2016. It would allow residents to use a number of different kinds of IDs in order to vote. Republican Speaker of the House Thom Tillis told a news conference that weeks of discussions have gone into creating this bill. Back in 2011, state lawmakers passed a Voter ID measure that would’ve required residents to present one of eight forms of photo identification in order to vote. Governor Bev Perdue vetoed it. But Tillis says, “I think you will see that it’s very different from the bill that was passed last year. It’s trying to take into account a number of the concerns that were raised. I think it’s technically a better bill and a bill that will withstand any challenge that comes to us in the way of the courts.”
Tillis says this measure is a compromise that probably won’t satisfy everyone on both sides of the aisle. It would require nearly all voters to present photo IDs at the polls, except for people who are disabled. Republican Representative Tom Murry of Morrisville says, “We are going to allow for multiple forms of state issued IDs including drivers licenses, non-operators licenses, student IDS from state institutions, employee IDS from state employees, travel cards, we’re also going to be developing a state-wide photo database.”
The list does not include IDs from private colleges in the state, but adults over the age of 70 would be allowed to use expired licenses. Most voters without photo IDs of any kind would have to get one, says Republican Representative Ruth Samuelson of Charlotte, “they can get a non-operator card from DMV. We will cover the cost if they have a financial hardship. So the fee for the card will be waived if they’re willing to sign that they have a financial hardship and cannot afford them, as well as any fees for the documents required in order to get the non-operator ID.”
Full Article: NC House Passes Voter ID Bill | WFAE.