Wake County Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory has rejected the GOP’s request for a temporary restraining order against North Carolina’s state elections board, allowing the use of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s digital identification as a valid voter ID for the upcoming fall election. The ruling came after arguments from lawyers representing both sides, with GOP critics claiming the digital ID did not qualify under state law requiring a physical card. However, the judge disagreed, stating that UNC students should not be compared to convicted felons and that he did not believe the digital IDs would be used for voter fraud.
The Democratic National Committee, as well as the Affirmative Action Coalition, supported the use of the digital ID, accusing Republicans of trying to create confusion and disenfranchise certain groups of voters. The State Board of Elections also opposed the Republican group’s request for a restraining order, stating the UNC digital ID met all criteria to be approved as a valid voter identification.
This ruling comes after the GOP filed their fourth suit against the state elections board, questioning the legality of the digital UNC ID. Despite the complaints, Judge Gregory’s decision allows for the use of the digital identification cards for voting purposes. The ongoing legal battle underscores the contentious debate over voter identification laws and the impact they have on different voter groups leading up to the fall election.
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