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North Carolina Governor Signs Sweeping Curbs on Voting Rights

HeadlineAug 13, 2013

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has signed a package of restrictions on voting rights seen by some as the harshest in the country. The new law requires voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls. It ends same-day voter registration, shrinks the early voting period by a week and eliminates pre-registration for teens who will turn 18 by Election Day. It allows any registered voter to challenge another voter’s eligibility, a provision critics say could enable vigilantism at the polls. It also weakens disclosure requirements intended to identify funders behind campaign ads, allows political parties to receive unlimited corporate donations and raises the cap on individual donations. It is the first set of voting restrictions passed by a state since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in June. Already, groups including the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed legal challenges, saying the law will disproportionately impact people of color.

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