Appeals court rejects request to postpone voter ID decision

Published August 5, 2016

by Associated Presss, published on WRAL.com, August 4, 2016.

An appeals court has quickly decided it won't delay enforcement of its ruling striking down North Carolina's photo identification requirement and other election restrictions, including reducing early in-person voting by seven days.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the stay Thursday, one day after state leaders' attorneys requested that last week's ruling be set aside as they prepare to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case.

"While this ruling was expected it is nevertheless disappointing that Roy Cooper and his allies have blocked our already successful and popular voter ID law. Attorney General Roy Cooper refused to do the job taxpayers are paying him to do, and defend North Carolina's voter protection laws," said GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse. "North Carolinians have demanded voter ID in overwhelming numbers. Republicans delivered, but Roy Cooper and North Carolina Democrats did everything they could to stop it.

"For now they have, and fair minded voters should ask why. "

A 4th Circuit panel had determined a 2013 law Republicans approved amounted to intentional discrimination of black voters.

“The rapid turnaround and denial shows the seriousness with which the judiciary takes its responsibilities in this case," state NAACP President Rev. William Barber said in a statement. "The Fourth Circuit Judges, led by Judge Motz, are as plain and direct as they can be. Governor McCrory and those who supported his attack on black and Hispanic voters must face reality."

Thursday's order says the harm to disenfranchised voters outweighs granting a delay. Last week's injunction means no voter ID mandate and 17 days of early voting with same-day registration.

The state has other options to seek a delay.