Voter ID Amendment to State Constitution Approved by N.C. House Committee

Raleigh, N.C. – A North Carolina House of Representatives committee  on Thursday approved a proposed state constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote, a measure that if passed by voters would place North Carolina in the mainstream with 34 states that already require some form of voter ID.  

House Bill 1092 Const. Amendment – Require Photo ID to Vote 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.

Speaker Moore addressed the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House prior to public comment and committee discussion of the proposal on Thursday.

“The overwhelming majority of North Carolinians support and believe that voter ID is a commonsense measure we can do to ensure election integrity,” Moore told the committee on Thursday.

“North Carolina is the last state – the only state – in the Southeast that has not adopted some form of voter ID already.  We’re outside the mainstream – over 30 states already have some form of voter ID already on the books.”

‪North Carolina is an outlier among the United States without Voter ID. We can join the 34 other states – and all of our neighbors – that have Voter ID to strengthen election integrity. This common sense security measure is supported by an overwhelming majority of our citizens. ‬

Posted by NC Speaker Tim Moore on Thursday, June 21, 2018

Three of North Carolina’s neighbors have strict photo ID requirements at the polls.  Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia, all mandate voter identification at the polls and require those without acceptable ID to cast a provisional ballot and present a valid ID shortly after Election Day.

“Voter ID protects the rights of all voters,” Moore said.

“It provides all voters the right to cast a secure ballot.  Let’s be clear – concern for the security of our elections is bipartisan.”  

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: