A federal judge this afternoon held off on ruling whether 13 North Carolina state legislators should comply with subpoenas requesting documents in connection with a trio of lawsuits challenging a voting law passed last year. Magistrate Judge Joi Elizabeth Peak also told parties in the suit to develop a plan to produce electronic documents from the state, and told defense attorneys to produce documents related to how the law is being implemented. The U.S. Department of Justice, along with a group of plaintiffs that include the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and the League of Women Voters, is contesting the Voter Identification Verification Act (VIVA).
Signed by Gov. Pat McCrory in August, the law requires that voters show a government issued photo ID at the polls.
It also shortens the early voting period from 17 days to 10 days and eliminates the counting of provisional ballots by those who voted in the wrong precinct.
Defenders say it will help prevent voter fraud, but opponents contend it will disproportionately harm black voters.
Full Article: Judge delays ruling on N.C. voting law – Winston-Salem Journal: Local News.