Bill Summary for H 589 (2013-2014)

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Summary date: 

Apr 24 2013
S.L. 2013-381

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 589 (Public) Filed Thursday, April 4, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT BY ESTABLISHING THE VOTER INFORMATION VERIFICATION ACT TO PROMOTE THE ELECTORAL PROCESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND INCREASED REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND BY REQUIRING VOTERS TO PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE VOTING TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF EACH REGISTERED VOTER TO CAST A SECURE VOTE WITH REASONABLE SECURITY MEASURES THAT CONFIRM VOTER IDENTITY AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT RESTRICTION, AND TO FURTHER REFORM THE ELECTION LAWS.
Intro. by Warren, Murry, T. Moore, Samuelson.

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Bill summary

House amendment #1 makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

Provides that the State Board of Elections (Board) will work with county boards of elections in counties where there are not DMV offices that are open five days a week in order to communicate information about availability and schedules of the DMV mobile units and to provide volunteers to assist voters with obtaining photo identification through those mobile units or any other local government that makes identification available. Similar requirements are also added to the education and publicity requirements found in Section 17 of the bill.

Creates new Section 18.5 of the act that provides that the Board will reimburse any local government for direct costs incurred by issuing photo identification if the local government meets five specified requirements, including being located in a county where there is no DMV driver's license office open five days a week.

Deletes part 2 of the enactment clause, substituting and providing that Part II of this act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to primaries and elections conducted on or after that date. Notwithstanding GS 163-166.13 or GS 163-87(5), as enacted by this act, at any primary or election between October 1, 2013, and January 1, 2016, any registered voter who does not present identification or whose photo identification does not bear any reasonable resemblance to the voter (i) shall be permitted to vote and will not be required to vote a provisional or a challenged ballot and (ii) will not be challenged for failure to present photo identification.

House amendment #5 makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

Amends GS 163-166.13 (Photo identification requirement for voting in person), providing that a tribal enrollment card which meets five specified criteria, including being signed by an elected official of the tribe and being issued by a federal or state recognized tribe pursuant to GS Chapter 71A, will meet the requirements of an approved photo identification for purposes of this section.

House amendment #6 makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

Amends GS 163-166.13(a), providing an exception to the requirement to present photo identification before voting for registered voters that are victims of a natural disaster occurring within 60 days before election day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the US President or the NC Governor who declares the lack of photo identification due to the natural disaster. Makes a conforming deletion in proposed GS 163-182.1A.