NCGOP Statement on NCSBE Vote Rejecting Flawed Voter ID 'Reasonable Impediment' Rule

August 13, 2023

For Immediate Release

The Republican Party of North Carolina commends the N.C. State Board of Elections for acknowledging the errors regarding consideration of an overly broad exception to Voter ID requirements to be listed on voter forms, and ultimately striking down such an exception upon justified complaints from NCGOP attorneys and other stakeholders focused on election integrity.

Without the consent of our citizens nor our legislature, the partisan State Board of Elections was seeking to permit individuals to vote without a photo ID, if those voters merely claim they “did not know photo ID was required for voting.” Through the deliberative legislative process, Republicans have always recognized and made earnest attempts to address reasonable exceptions to, or provide alternatives to establish voter identification. However, creating an exception that contradicts the basic principle of the law is not only improper, it is an insult to all citizens of this state and violates a long respected precept concerning the Rule of Law — ‘Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse.’

North Carolinians know inherently that even professing ignorance of the speed limit isn't good enough to get out of a speeding ticket. It becomes even more important when it comes to establishing trust and integrity in our elections.

On behalf of voters across North Carolina, NCGOP attorneys called upon the N.C. State Board of Elections to remove this offensive exception from the Reasonable Impediment Form, in order to preserve the integrity of our elections and democracy in this State. The inclusion of this exception in upcoming elections would have circumvented the entire purpose of not only Voter ID, but also violated basic fundamentals of American Law.

"Voter ID has been put before North Carolina voters, who have supported this simple election integrity measure in resounding fashion time and again," stated NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. "This 'Ignorance of the Law' proposal never passed the smell test, and it's alarming that Democrats are still seeking to undermine the will of the people and election integrity when it comes to Voter ID."

"The NCGOP will continue to fight to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat and to make sure the voters of this state get the election integrity they deserve," Whatley added.

After a decade of obstruction and smear campaigns by Democrats, North Carolina joins dozens of other states in requiring voters to show a photo ID before casting a ballot. There are many acceptable forms of ID and voter ID cards are offered free at your county board of elections office. Get more information about voter ID requirements at NCSBE.GOV.