North Carolina voters react to voter ID issues

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Civitas Institute surveyed North Carolina voters regarding their positions on issues involving voting and election integrity.

One poll questions asked, "Would you favor or oppose a law that requires voters to show government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, before being allowed to cast a vote in an election?"

Sixty-seven percent responded in favor, while 30 percent opposed.

In another poll question, 57 percent responded saying requiring a government-issued ID would stop voter fraud.
30 percent said it would prevent eligible voters from casting a ballot, 8 percent said it would have no effect or make no difference.

A local voter said requiring ID would give voters a sense of security.

"I think anybody can go vote illegally without an ID. And it is just so easy to get an ID," said Earl Gay of Winnabow. "First of all, you have four more years for the president to be elected to get an ID. If you can’t get an ID in 4 years, you probably do not need to be voting."

Other people agree the requirement would be warranted, but say the state should make sure everyone has access to getting identification.

"I think that it would be prudent to have a voter identification requirement for voting," said Wilmington attorney Jeff Keeter. "However, I think that the state of North Carolina should implement a method to provide identification to those who cannot to have one, or do not drive and do not have a driver's license, free of charge so they will not be disenfranchised."

The poll sampled from 600 registered voters in North Carolina in late February. North Carolina does not currently require government-issued photo identification in order to vote.

<a href="http:wway.wcbi.com/2013/03/04/poll-most-nc-support-gun-control-voter-id-immigrants">An Elon University poll also found wide support for voter ID</a>. It showed 72 percent of North Carolinians support voters having to show an ID. More than 97 percent of respondents in the Elon poll said they have some form of photo identification.