RALEIGH (AP) — A revised bill supported by Republicans at the North Carolina legislature would add sweeping new restrictions on when, where and how citizens can vote.
Legislation which advanced in a Senate committee Tuesday would cut the state’s early voting period by a week and eliminate same-day voter registration. It also increases restrictions on provisional voting and would eliminate straight-ticket voting. The measure also repeals publicly-funded elections for judicial races and increases the maximum campaign contribution to $5,000.
The bill also would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls.
Republicans say the measures are necessary to combat voter fraud. Non-partisan voting rights groups and Democrats say the new restrictions amount to a blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout.
The bill now heads to the Senate floor.