Group says ID mandate in primary portend November problems

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – An election reform group opposed to North Carolina’s 2013 voting law says problems implementing its photo identification mandate the first time in the March primary portend major problems for November’s election.

Democracy North Carolina filed Thursday a brief urging a federal appeals court to strike down the photo ID requirement and retain both same-day registration during early voting and out-of-precinct voting on election day. A trial judge upheld the law.

Democracy NC says more than 1,400 provisional ballots weren’t counted during the primary because voters lacked qualifying ID and alleges the law’s “reasonable impediment” exception didn’t work.

State Board of Elections Executive Director Kim Strach says more than 99 percent of primary voters brought ID to the polls and those who lacked one are getting help with free identification cards.

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