North Carolina Voter ID Law Struck Down in Court of Appeals VOTER ID LEGISLATION September 2, 2016 | Madelaine Pisani and Justin C. Brown Sources: Alan Blinder, “Opponents of North Carolina’s Voter ID Law Appeal Ruling,” NY Times, April 26, 2016; Alan Blinder, Michael Wines, “Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down North Carolina Voter ID Requirement,” NY Times, July 29, 2016; Colleen Jenkins, “North Carolina’s Voter ID Law Heads to Trial,” Reuters, January 25, 2016; Sari Horwitz, “Trial to Start in Lawsuit Over North Carolina Voter ID Law,” Washington Post, January 24, Timeline of Voting Legislation and Action Voting Rights Act of 1965 A provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits nine southern states from making changes to their voting laws without federal approval due to the states’ history of discrimination. Shelby County v. Holder This landmark Supreme Court case nullifies the provision of the Voting Rights Act requiring federal approval for the aforementioned states, allowing them to change their voting laws at their discretion. North Carolina Passes New Voting Laws, Justice Department Sues Weeks after the Supreme Court case is decided, North Carolina passes new voting laws that are among the strictest in the country. Several civil rights groups and the Justice Department sue. Arguments Made in District Court Republican-appointed U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder hears arguments on several aspects of the law. Schroeder is hearing the case without a jury and will come to an independent ruling. Federal District Court Upholds Repeal of ID Law Provision Judge Schroeder upheld the repeal of these provisions: Allow voters to register and vote on the same day Enact a seven-day reduction to the early-voting period and Allow preregistration, enabling people to sign up before their 18 th birthdays Allow ballots to be counted even when accidentally cast outside the voter’s home precinct Do not require voters to present photo ID at the polls April 25, Analysis Proponents of voter ID laws say they are intended to fight voter fraud and apply equally to everyone. Opponents argue that these laws disproportionally disenfranchise minorities as they are less likely to possess the required government identification. They also note the problem of voter fraud has been found to be negligible in many studies. The effect of this ruling could increase voter turnout in a presidential election. This would likely benefit the Democratic side of the ticket.

North Carolina Voter ID Law Struck Down in Court of Appeals VOTER ID LEGISLATION September 2, 2016 | Madelaine Pisani and Justin C. Brown Sources: Alan Blinder, “Opponents of North Carolina’s Voter ID Law Appeal Ruling,” NY Times, April 26, 2016; Alan Blinder, Michael Wines, “Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down North Carolina Voter ID Requirement,” NY Times, July 29, 2016; Colleen Jenkins, “North Carolina’s Voter ID Law Heads to Trial,” Reuters, January 25, 2016; Sari Horwitz, “Trial to Start in Lawsuit Over North Carolina Voter ID Law,” Washington Post, January 24, Timeline of Voting Legislation and Action Opponents of NC’s Voter ID Law Appeal Ruling Lawyers filing the appeal asked the Fourth Circuit to expedite consideration of the matter because this ruling could impact the voting in the 2016 November election. Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down NC Voter ID Requirement Opponents of the law won their appeal where a panel of three Democrat-appointed federal judges found the law’s provisions “target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.” The panel struck down every repeal Judge Schroeder upheld and stopped short of re-imposing federal oversight on the state’s elections. Supreme Court Denies State Request to Allow Provisions of Voter ID Law to go Back into Effect In a 4-4 decision the justices left the lower court’s opinion to strike down the law in effect. April 26, 2016 July 29, 2016 Looking Forward Democrats and voting rights activists applaud the ruling. Attorney General Loretta Lynch welcomed the decision, saying the law “sent a message that contradicted some of the most basic principles of our democracy.” Republicans and proponents of the voter ID requirements say the ruling was wrongheaded and politically motivated. In 2012, North Carolina went from one of the states with the lowest voter turnout to one of the highest, in no small part because the protections of the Voting Rights Act, which allowed black voter turnout to approach that of whites, according to the court’s statement. This year, North Carolina is a key battleground state for the presidential candidates. The state also has a close gubernatorial election. Higher voter turnout, as expected with this ruling, will likely impact these elections, making minorities and student-age voters more of a target for candidates. Sept. 1, 2016