North Carolina Photo ID Challenge (NC NAACP – Federal Court)

Lawsuit brought by the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and other local chapters against the state challenging a 2018 law, Senate Bill 824, that requires voters to provide one of 10 authorized photo IDs to vote either absentee or in person. The complaint alleges that the voter ID provision disproportionately burdens African American and Latino residents in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The district court preliminarily blocked the law, but this decision was reversed by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Republican leaders of the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives tried unsuccessfully to intervene in the case three separate times — twice before the district court and once before the 4th Circuit. They then filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to rule on their right to intervene, which was granted. Litigation in the district court about the constitutionality of the photo ID provision has been stayed (meaning paused) until the Supreme Court rules on the Republicans’ right to intervene. Oral argument before the Court was held on March 21. The Supreme Court reversed the 4th Circuit’s judgment, ruling 8-1 that the Republican state legislators are entitled to intervene in the lawsuit. A bench trial is set to begin on May 6, 2024.

STATUS: Parties are preparing for trial set to begin on May 6, 2024.

Last updated: April 16, 2024 3:03 pm EST