Local elections officials are gearing up for the fall municipal elections as they set about to comply with the new state law that requires voters to present a photo ID when they go to the polls to cast their vote.
Henderson residents will vote for a new mayor and four City Council seats in the Oct. 10 nonpartisan elections; Voting in Kittrell and Middleburg will take place on Nov. 7, according to Vance County Board of Elections Deputy Director Shelly Wood. Early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
Most registered voters can simply show their driver’s license, but non-drivers have a variety of options for acceptable photo IDs that meet the criteria from the State Board of Elections.
The photo ID must be a government-issued ID, such as a passport or DMV identification card, available free of charge. Soon, voters can request free photo ID cards from their local elections offices, but they are not available right now.
The main point for voters to understand is that they will be allowed to cast their vote with or without an acceptable photo ID. Those without an acceptable photo ID will complete provisional ballots and submit additional information to be reviewed and certified by the local board of elections.
School IDs and employee identification cards issued by state and local governments could also be used, as long as they have been approved in advance.
State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said educational institutions and and other government employers have until June 28 to provide the necessary information for approval.
“We strongly encourage all eligible educational institutions and government employers to apply for their IDs to be approved for voting. Getting their IDs approved will help ensure their students and employees are best equipped to participate in our state’s elections,” Bell said in a press statement.
Poll workers in the state’s 100 counties will only be looking at the photo to determine that it reasonably resembles the voter; there’s a process in place for when it doesn’t.
In such a case, the voter will complete a provisional ballot, which will be included in the final tally when the ID is verified.
Local elections officials have about a month before the filing window opens for the three municipal elections in Vance County – candidates may file between 12 noon on Friday, July 7 and 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
The State Board of Elections has a survey open until June 23 to collect public comment on the proposed changes. Find it here: Public Comment Portal: Photo ID Rules. You can also send comments via email to rulemaking.sboe@ncsbe.gov or by regular mail: Attn: Rulemaking Coordinator, PO Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27611-7255.
There also will be a virtual public hearing on June 19 at 11 a.m. Participants can join by phone or computer. The links are below:
- Online: Webex
- Access code: 2435 046 5077
- Passcode: NCSBE (62723 from phones and video systems)
- By Phone: (415) 655-0003
- Access code: 2435 046 5077#
- Passcode: 62723
To learn more, visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/