From Carolina Journal’s Barry Smith:
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles issued photo IDs to 99 voters during the first nine days of the new year, a move that could indicate voters are preparing for the new requirement even though it does not take effect until 2016.
“The first three days, we had 75,” said Marge Howell, a DMV spokeswoman. “It’s gone up.” Meantime, DMV is implementing several measures to improve customer service, including concierge-like service at a few offices.
The N.C. General Assembly passed, and Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law, a sweeping new election law that among other things requires voters to show a photo ID when they go to the polls. However, the photo ID requirement doesn’t take effect until the 2016 primary and general elections.
Acceptable IDs include an N.C. Driver’s license, an N.C. special ID card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID card, a veterans ID card containing a photo, or a tribal enrollment card issued by a federally recognized tribe or a tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina.
Voters who move from out of state can use a driver’s license or special ID card issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or commonwealth of the United States if the voter’s registration was valid within 90 days of the election.
Voters older than 70 can use any of those cards if they had not expired on the day the voter reached the age of 70.
People who don’t have any of the acceptable photo IDs can get a card at the DMV, and the DMV will waive the fees for those getting card for the purpose of voting. Fees also will be waived to get certified birth certificates and marriage licenses from state or county offices if the documents are for the purpose of obtaining a photo ID to vote.
