North Carolina may not require voters to have a photo ID after all starting next year. That is, if you have a good reason for not having one. A bill is headed to the governor’s desk that allows people without a photo ID some leeway.
The bill outlines eight general reasons that are acceptable for not being able to obtain a photo ID. They include lack of transportation, disability or illness, work schedule, and family responsibilities. In those cases, people would be able to cast a provisional ballot if they sign an affidavit and present an alternate form of ID such as a utility bill or voter registration card.
People had urged state lawmakers to make that change during a series of public hearings held by the state board of elections this month.
The bill would also allow voters to use expired IDs, as long as they didn’t expire more than four years before the day of voting. Both Senate and House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the bill.
