Court To Consider NC Voter ID Law

Winston-Salem today will once again take center stage in the national debate over voting rights as the fight over Voter ID heads to federal court.

The provision was not considered during a federal civil trial last summer after the General Assembly made last-minute changes to the law to make it less strict.

Since that time the two sides in the case – including the NAACP as plaintiffs and the state as defendants – have tried to resolve their differences over the measure to avoid going back to court.

But they couldn't reach a settlement, and so the case is going to trial.

The NAACP asked for an injunction to block the Voter ID law during the March primary. That request was denied.

Opponents of the law say it places an undue burden on minorities, who are less likely to have photo identification. State attorneys deny that claim and say the requirement assures the integrity of the state's elections.