Story perspectives

Republican-led NC Board Shifts to Simple Majority on Voter-ID Exemptions

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Republican-led North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Thursday to replace the unanimous-vote requirement with a simple majority for rejecting voter-ID exemption requests.
The board approved the changes pending sign-off by Republican-controlled Rules Review Commission.
Elections Director Sam Hayes said the revisions follow state law and aim to increase confidence in election integrity.
Democratic members and Common Cause warned the measures could raise partisan influence and erode voter trust.

History

Historical Context

The 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after the Selma marches, outlawed literacy tests and required federal preclearance; the Senate passed it 77-19 on May 26 1965. Decades later, the Republican-led North Carolina State Board of Elections voted to replace its unanimous-vote rule with a simple majority, reviving disputes over the Act’s protections.

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Story summary

The Republican-led North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Thursday to replace the unanimous-vote requirement with a simple majority for rejecting voter-ID exemption requests.
The board approved the changes pending sign-off by Republican-controlled Rules Review Commission.
Elections Director Sam Hayes said the revisions follow state law and aim to increase confidence in election integrity.
Democratic members and Common Cause warned the measures could raise partisan influence and erode voter trust.

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