Appeals Court Halts Use of University’s Mobile IDs for Upcoming Election
A North Carolina appeals court has temporarily blocked students and employees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from using digital identification for voting, in a ruling issued Friday. The decision reverses a prior ruling from the State Board of Elections that allowed the university’s mobile ID to meet the new photo ID voting requirement.
The three-judge panel from the Court of Appeals ordered that the mobile UNC One Card, a digital ID produced by the university, cannot be used in the upcoming November election. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the North Carolina GOP, which argued that the state’s law only permits physical ID cards for voting purposes.
Legal Battle Over Voter ID Law
The Republican Party’s lawsuit followed the State Board of Elections’ approval last month of the university’s digital ID, stating that it met the necessary security and photo requirements. The GOP argued that digital IDs could be manipulated and do not comply with the law. A previous attempt by Republicans to block the use of the digital ID was denied by a Superior Court judge.
The appeals court’s ruling did not provide a detailed explanation but mentioned a board memo that prohibits other forms of non-physical ID, such as copied or photographed versions of valid IDs, from being used at polling stations. The ruling was unanimous, but the names of the judges involved have not been disclosed.
Impact on Students and Staff at UNC
The ruling has sparked concern among Democratic groups and student organizations, as the decision could disenfranchise thousands of UNC students and employees who were expecting to use the mobile ID to vote. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) argued in court filings that banning the digital ID so close to the election could lead to confusion and potentially prevent up to 40,000 eligible voters from casting their ballots.
The mobile UNC One Card, which is available only on Apple devices, had become the default ID for students and employees on campus. However, UNC has since offered to provide physical cards at no charge to those who initially received a digital ID.
GOP Praises Ruling; Democrats Warn of Voter Suppression
The North Carolina GOP lauded the appeals court’s decision, with party spokesperson Matt Mercer stating that it “will ensure election integrity and adherence to state law.” Republicans argue that the use of mobile IDs could undermine voter confidence and lead to potential fraud.
On the other hand, Democratic leaders, including Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, criticized the move, claiming that it is an attempt to suppress the votes of eligible students and employees. “Republicans supporting GOP nominee Donald Trump are trying to stop eligible voters from making their voices heard in this election, but we will not let them succeed,” Lutvak said.
Voter ID Law in North Carolina
North Carolina’s voter ID law, enacted in late 2018, requires voters to present a valid photo ID when casting their ballots. However, the implementation of this law faced numerous legal challenges, delaying its enforcement until municipal elections in 2023. This fall’s election marks the first time that infrequent voters must meet the ID requirements.
Voters without an ID can still cast their ballots by filling out an exception form. Early in-person voting begins on October 17, while absentee ballots are already being distributed.
The decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court, with potential further developments ahead of the November 5 election.
