Federal Trial Won't Address Voter ID Mandate

A federal trial challenging several provisions of North Carolina's 2013 elections law is scheduled for later this month. But the court won't hear arguments on the state's upcoming voter identification requirement in light of recent changes to the mandate.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder ruled that claims challenging the photo ID provision will be kept out of the July 13 trial in Winston-Salem. They may be heard at a later date. Other claims will be tried, including accusations that reducing early voting days disproportionately harms minority citizens.

Schroeder's order came barely a week after the legislature finalized a bill creating a method by which people who can't obtain a photo ID before next year can cast a lawful ballot.

Attorneys now have until mid-August to assess the new law and whether voter ID claims are still worth taking to trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.