With early voting concluded and the March 5 primary election just hours away, top election officials in Wake County report no issues when it comes to the new statewide voter ID requirement.
Representatives for the Wake County Board of Elections detailed how voter ID requirements have changed the process at election sites, starting at check-in. Voters still state their name, address, and in the case of primaries, their party affiliation; but they are now asked to show an acceptable form of photo identification as well.
Election officials report the biggest change has been the new materials at each voting site. This includes updated training materials for poll workers and step-by-step guides, a list of acceptable IDs, signage to let voters know to have their ID ready to present, and exception forms for those who do not have any form of acceptable photo ID.
The Wake County Board of Elections didn’t spotlight any current issues or concerns with voter ID implementation in an update to the Carolina Journal. Data shows just 10 voters haven’t provided an ID in Wake County, of which four need to return with an ID.
“We’ve updated our processes and materials to make sure it is a smooth transition for voters and officials,” Wake County representatives said. “Most voters that we have seen have had at least one of the acceptable forms of ID. We also can issue free photo IDs at our office to voters who request one. Our officials can help let you know your options to meet this requirement, regardless of your situation.”
While the main form of voter ID is a driver’s license, there are several different options when it comes to showing proof of identity. Eligible documentation includes a US passport, state or government ID card, or a voter photo ID card, which can be obtained for free through county boards of elections. All forms of verification require a photo of the person.
When an individual doesn’t provide proper identification at a voting site, they can opt tp fill out a provisional ballot. A voter will be required to either return to an election site with proper identification or fill out an exception form. The most common exceptions are ‘lost or stolen photo identification’ and ‘other reasonable impediment.’
Data from the State Board of Elections website reports that 203 out of 941 provisional ballots cast during early voting across the state were a result of voters not having a valid voter ID. Of those 203, about 127 of them fall under the “exception-reasonable impediment” and will likely be accepted. The remaining 76 must return with a proper ID for their provisional ballot to be counted.
The highest level of provisional ballots cast due to no voter ID is in Durham County, in which 15 voters haven’t provided photo identification.
With 2024 bound to be a highly contentious year in the lead-up to the November 5 election, over two-thirds of North Carolina voters feel the country is on the wrong track, according to a recent Carolina Journal survey in partnership with Cygnal polling. The overwhelming sentiment comes as Trump and Biden are likely to face off for a second time in their bids for the White House.
When it comes to the general election, about 46.5% of North Carolina voters said they plan to vote in person on Election Day, while 47% said they planned to vote early in-person.
As for candidate preferences in state legislative races, data shows about 46% plan to vote for a Republican, while about 40% plan to vote for a Democrat.
SEE ALSO: The voter ID boogeyman
Beginning in February the State Board of Elections announced a voter ID awareness campaign to remind voters to bring their photo ID to vote. Meanwhile, the state’s largest counties have reported robust levels of poll worker recruitment to facilitate the democratic process, paving the way to election transparency.