It has been eight weeks since the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, which has paved the way for states to make major changes to their election laws now that they are no longer subject to federal scrutiny.
Last week North Carolina became the latest to implement changes–the governor signed an election law overhaul that includes a voter ID requirement, reduces early voting hours, and prohibits same-day registration.
Governor Pat McCrory declined to be interviewed for this segment, but he defended the decision in a statement last week, saying critics of the law are employing “scare tactics.”
Michael Tomsic is a reporter for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina. He says what started as a simple voter ID bill took on a new life after the Supreme Court’s ruling in June. He joins The Takeaway to discuss the new law, which is considered to be the strictest in the country.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.