NC Supreme Court hears voter ID law challenge - WRAL News
By Bryan Anderson, WRAL statehouse reporter
The North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday will hear a case challenging an amendment voters passed in 2018 requiring residents to present an ID when they show up at the polls.
The NAACP argues that the legislature’s GOP majority in 2018 emerged after Republicans unconstitutionally drew districts for their political advantage. Because the maps that elected Republicans in 2018 were deemed unconstitutional as part of a separate lawsuit, the group claims they shouldn’t have been able to initiate a process that resulted in voters supporting the voter ID amendment to the state constitution.
The group also alleges that the state’s voter ID law disproportionately harms Black voters.
The lawsuit also targets a constitutional cap on the state income tax rate, which voters also lowered in a 2018 measure.
Republicans argue it’s unfair to invalidate an amendment voters overwhelmingly supported by 12 percentage points. They have also accused courts of overstepping their authority when previously invalidating the state’s voter ID law.
As the 2022 election approaches, photo identification is still not required to vote.
Democratic lawmakers and liberal-leaning groups supporting the NAACP’s lawsuit include Gov. Roy Cooper, the Legislative Black Caucus, Advocated for Justice, Democracy North Carolina and the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.
NC NAACP President Deborah Maxwell said in a statement that the state’s voter ID law disproportionately should be struck down.
“The State Conference of the NAACP brought this case before the amendments were placed on the ballot to vindicate the rights of all North Carolinians,” Maxwell wrote. “We are pleased that the NC Supreme Court will hear our full case and the voice of the people on Monday in our long fight for a just and equal democracy.”
Republican House Speaker
and Senate leader
, the defendants in the case who still preside over the legislature, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The state Supreme Court hearing on Monday is the latest judicial fight that could affect voting in the 2022 election. It comes as a redistricting battle is playing out and a lower court will decide which congressional and legislative lines voters will be placed in.
source: https://www.wral.com/nc-supreme-court-hears-voter-id-law-challenge/20132952/
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