RALEIGH (AP) — A North Carolina civil rights leader and an Indiana elections official are talking to a House panel holding the last hearings and public debates before taking up a voter ID bill in committee next week.
The House Elections Committee hosted state NAACP president the Rev. William Barber and Indiana Election Division co-director Jerry Bonnet Wednesday before starting debate among committee members. More than 75 people are expected to speak at a public hearing.
The House rolled out legislation last week that requires voters to present one of eight forms of state-issued ID. Voters who can’t afford to pay for photo ID or documents needed to obtain it could sign an affidavit.
Democrats and advocacy groups continue to oppose the measure, arguing it’s politically motivated to disenfranchise poor and minority voters.