North Carolina Election Process Challenged

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North Carolina Election Process Challenged

February 13th, 2016

Awake Goy

North Carolina faces legal challenges as presidential primary approaches.

North Carolina Primaries are scheduled for March 15 but may not proceed as scheduled because of two challenges to its election process: the boundaries of congressional districts and the voter ID requirement. Elections were delayed in North Carolina in 1998 and in 2002 because of redistricting lawsuits.

In 2013, three voters filed suit to invalidate two congressional districts because the districts had been racially gerrymandered – map lines were drawn to concentrate black voters in districts that diluted their political power. Earlier this month the Fourth Circuit of Appeals agreed with the plaintiffs and ordered that the 13 congressional districts be redrawn. The federal court also barred elections within the gerrymandered districts until new maps for the districts are approved and gave the state two weeks to redraw the districts. State legislators who helped draw the districts said they will appeal the ruling as soon as possible.

A lawsuit was recently concluded that challenged North Carolina’s voter Identification (ID) law. The law requires that before casting a ballot, a citizen must show a govern-issued photo ID and the ID must exactly match their voter registration. A lawsuit contended that the law made it difficult for black and Latino residents to vote, as Minorities are less likely to possess an official photo ID and it is harder for them to obtain one.

Before the law could be challenged in 2015, the state legislature modified it to permit citizens without a government-issued photo ID to cast a provisional ballot if they filled out a form claiming “reasonable impediment, such as lack of proper documentation, transportation problems, family obligations, work schedules, illness, or disability.” Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued that the term “reasonable impediment” is vague and that election officials have not educated the public about the amended photo ID requirement or offered clear guidelines to precinct officials and poll workers.

The judge is not expected to give a verdict before the March 15 presidential primary.