The NAACP and several civil rights groups are suing North Carolina in federal court over its new voting law.
North Carolina's new voting law is called the Voter Verification Information Act. The state General Assembly passed it in August 2013. Some of the provisions include; reducing the early voting period from 17 to 10 days, eliminating same day registration and prohibiting county officials from counting ballots cast by voters in the correct county but in the wrong precinct. Also, the law eliminates pre-registration for 16-and 17-year-olds, increases the number of poll observers that each political party can assign during an election and allows a registered voter in a county to challenge another voter's right to cast a ballot. It would also require voters to use a photo ID beginning in 2016.
The state says this law prevents voter fraud.
During the week of July 7 in downtown Winston-Salem, the NAACP and a number of other civil rights group are attempting to get an injunction against the state. This would temporarily prohibit the state from using the new voting law during the November 2014 election season. Federal Judge Thomas E. Schroeder is presiding over this case.
In a partnership between WFDD and the Winston-Salem Journal, Legal Affairs reporter Michael Hewlett is covering the proceedings and providing daily updates during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
He spoke with WFDD's Kathryn Mobley and explained the opening morning of this case Monday, July 7.
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