NC state Senate floats restrictive voter ID bill

by Alexandra Jaffe - 07/19/13 2:09 PM ET

{mosads}It eliminates about half of the forms of identification allowed in a voter identification bill that was passed in the state House two months prior, according to the Raleigh News and Observer.

The Senate measure would restrict the identification voters can legally use at the polls to just seven types, including driver’s licenses, passports, non-driver IDs and military or veteran cards.

Voters would no longer be able to use most student IDs or identification provided by local governments, private employers and law enforcement agencies.

Democrats remain staunchly opposed to the bill, arguing it would disenfranchise voters who lack drivers licenses or other forms of easily accessible identification.

Republicans say their concerns are unfounded, as the bill includes funds to provide free photo identification for people without them.

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The North Carolina legislature hopes to pass a bill through both chambers by the time it adjourns, next week. The voter identification measure is the latest in a series of similar measures under consideration in statehouses nationwide.

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