Statement on Voter ID Court Ruling

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, an unelected judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina released a court order halting the implementation of voter ID for the entire 2020 election cycle.

“It is absolutely ridiculous that the judge would accuse the bill sponsors — including an African American Democrat — of being racist. The voters saw the need for voter ID and approved the constitutional amendment. The legislature, acting on the will of the people, enacted one of the broadest voter ID laws in the nation. Now this lawsuit, and last-minute ruling, have sowed additional discord and confusion about the voting process,” Lauren Horsch, a spokeswoman for Sen. Berger said of the ruling.

“The judge prohibited the legislature from defending the law it wrote. The only parties the judge allowed to defend the law are Governor Roy Cooper’s administration and Attorney General Josh Stein, both of whom oppose voter ID. As legislative leaders have said before, Attorney General Stein must appeal and move to stay this decision immediately, so the state can continue to move forward with the implementation of voter ID.”

Former state Sen. Joel Ford (D-Mecklenburg) was one of the authors of the law just struck down. When asked by WRAL News if there was any discriminatory intent behind the law he said “no.”

“When I looked at the legislation I asked myself, if my grandmother was still alive would she be able to vote under this legislation. And the answer is yes. How is it discriminatory when the photo ID is free?” Ford said.