Statement on North Carolina Supreme Court’s Voter ID Ruling

Lame-duck court throws out bipartisan law implementing the constitutional requirement for voter ID

Decision continues the Democratic Party’s relentless efforts to dismantle all forms of voter ID in NC

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, the North Carolina Supreme Court threw out a bipartisan law passed to fulfill North Carolina’s constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote. The 4–3 decision from the lame-duck state Supreme Court continues the Democratic Party’s relentless efforts to dismantle all forms of voter ID in North Carolina.

Senate Bill 824 passed the General Assembly with bipartisan majorities in both chambers. It was sponsored by an African American legislator and several Democrats voted to support the bill. The law, which survived a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, enabled all voters to obtain free voter IDs.

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) released the following statement on the decision:

“If Democrats on the state Supreme Court can’t respect the will of the voters, the General Assembly will. Regardless of the policymaking goals of the activist justices, the people of North Carolina overwhelmingly support voter ID laws. I look forward to respecting their wishes and passing a new voter ID law next year.”