Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina House of Representatives passed a proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday that would require voter identification at the polls if approved by the state senate this session and a majority of voters in the November 2018 elections.
House Bill 1092 Const. Amendment – Require Photo ID to Vote passed by a 74-43 vote and is sponsored by state House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett), Rep. Michelle Presnell (R-Yancey), Rep. John Sauls (R-Lee), and 43 co-sponsors in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
If approved by the General Assembly and a majority of voters in the November 2018 election, the proposal would amend the Constitution of North Carolina to require that every person offering to vote in person present photo ID before voting in the manner prescribed by law.
Approving voter ID would place North Carolina in the mainstream with 34 other states that require some form of voter ID. North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast not to require some form of voter ID.
Under current law, North Carolina voters state their name and residential address for election officials to verify their identity.
Public polling consistently shows a strong majority of North Carolinians – and the American people – support voter ID as a common sense measure to strengthen election security.
Background
H.B. 1092 is the seventh bill filed by N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore to enact voter ID in North Carolina since he was first elected to the state House in 2002. Moore also filed voter ID legislation in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013.
Opinion polls consistently show overwhelming public support for voter ID in North Carolina and across the country:
- 69%of North Carolinians support voter ID in February 2018 Civitas Poll
- 70% of likely U.S. voters support voter ID in August 2017 Rasmussen Poll
- 68%of North Carolinians support voter ID in May 2017 Civitas Poll
- 80%of registered U.S. voters support voter ID in August 2016 Gallup Poll
- 70% of registered U.S. voters support voter ID in May 2014 Fox News Poll
- 73%of North Carolinians support voter ID in March 2012 Elon Poll
- 75% of likely U.S. voters support voter ID in June 2011 Rasmussen Poll
N.C. Could Join 34 States With Voter ID: Amendment Passes First House Vote
Voter ID Amendment to State Constitution Approved by N.C. House Committee
Voter ID Constitutional Amendment Sponsored by N.C. Speaker Moore