WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Advocacy groups are asking a federal judge to put key provisions of North Carolina’s elections-overhaul law on hold for the November elections.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups and voters filed lawsuits in August to block provisions of the 2013 law approved by the General Assembly.
The plaintiffs argue that a reduction in the number of early voting days, the elimination of same-day registration during early voting, and a requirement for photo identification that will go into effect in 2016 are discriminatory and erode voting rights.
With the trial not expected until 2015, the ACLU asked a judge late Monday to put North Carolina’s law on hold.
“North Carolinians should be able to vote in the November election without having to navigate the barriers imposed by this discriminatory law,” said Chris Brook, legal director of the ACLU of North Carolina.
Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said he’s worried that some people could be blocked from voting in November.
“If this law is subsequently found unconstitutional, as we fully expect it will be, North Carolinians who were denied the vote will never get a do-over,” he said.
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