RALEIGH (AP) — The budget-writing committee in the North Carolina House is preparing to evaluate the costs of a bill requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls.
The House Appropriations Committee meets Tuesday to vote on a bill that could cost upwards of $3.7 million. That includes the costs of providing free IDs, additional staffing and technology needs. Latest estimates do not include the costs of an education campaign to inform voters of changes before the bill goes into effect.
The State Board of Elections has reported 318,000 registered voters can’t be found in a driver’s license database.
The bill has already cleared two committees along party-line votes. Democrats call it veiled voter suppression while Republicans say it’s needed to prevent possible fraud. It’s expected on the House floor Wednesday.