DURHAM (AP) — Judges will now decide whether an elections overhaul in North Carolina requiring photo identification to vote and scaling back early voting is discriminatory or permitted under the law.
Several groups and voters filed two lawsuits in federal court challenging the law soon after Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill Monday. Some of the same groups also planned to sue in state court soon.
Lawyers challenging the law said at a news conference Tuesday they have a strong case and the totality of changes will be horrendous for black voters. Republicans who passed the bill disagree and say provisions are similar to those in other states.
Duke University law professor Guy Charles says the plaintiffs face an uphill battle to prevail but some provisions could be hard for legislators to justify.