NC Senate Passes Voter ID Measure

The state Senate has given its final approval for photo ID requirements for in-person voting.

This is the first effort for the legislature to put into practice a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID. Voters approved that mandate this month in a statewide referendum with 55 percent of the vote.

Two previous voter ID measures passed by Republicans this decade failed. One was vetoed by then-Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat. Another one was blocked by federal judges who found the legislation unfairly discriminated black voters.

This latest version is less restrictive than that in part because it allows many more types of photo identifications, including student IDs from public and private colleges.

The measure now goes to the state House, where it's likely to be debated next week in the ongoing lame-duck session before new members are sworn in.