ID required as early voting begins
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 22, 2016 1:46 PM
One-stop early voting for the March 15 primary will start Thursday, March 3, and continue through Saturday, March 12.
It will be the first time that voters will be required to furnish a photo ID in order to vote.
The one-stop sites will be located at the Board of Elections office, 209 S. William St.; Little River Square Shopping Center, 1310 W. Grantham Road; Goldsboro Worship Center, 900 W. New Hope Road; and the Mount Olive train depot, 110 W. Main St., Mount Olive.
The dates and times will be:
* March 3, 4 and 7 to 11, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
* March 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* March 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
* March 12, 9 a.m. t0 1 p.m.
All county polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 15.
Several photo IDs can be used:
* N.C. driver's license issued by DMV including a learner's permit or provisional license. They may be expired for up to four years before presented for voting.
* U.S. passport (unexpired) including both the passport book and card issued by the U.S. Department of State.
* A veterans ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A veterans ID card must bear an expiration date and must be unexpired, but veterans ID cards without an expiration date are also acceptable.
* A U.S. military ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense including those issued to dependents, retired military personnel or civilians. A military ID card bearing an expiration date must be unexpired, but a card without an expiration date is also acceptable.
* A driver's license or non-operator's identification card issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or territory or commonwealth of the U.S., but only if the voter registered to vote within 90 days of the election. The card must be unexpired.
* A tribal enrollment card issued by a state-recognized tribe, provided that it has been approved by the state Board of Elections. The card must be unexpired.
Free voter ID cards are available at any DMV office.
In order to get one of the cards, an applicant must provide a valid Social Security card, proof of age and identity and proof of citizenship and residency.
The person also must be registered to vote, but does not have an acceptable photo ID.
Anyone unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID can claim a "reasonable impediment" and still cast a provisional ballot.
Examples of reasonable impediment include lack of proper documentation, transportation problems, work schedule, family obligations, illness or disability.
To claim such an impediment a person must sign a declaration describing the impediment, provide their date of birth and last four numbers of their Social Security number or present their current voter registration card or an acceptable document with their name and address.
Acceptable documents include utility bills, bank statements, paycheck, government check or other government-issued documents.
The provisional ballot will be counted after the information is verified and all eligibility requirements are met.
Photo ID is not required for a mail-in absentee ballots.
Also, people who qualify to vote curbside can either show a photo ID or an acceptable document showing their name and address.
Acceptable documents include utility bills, bank statements, paycheck, government check or other government-issued documents.
Any voter over the age of 70 may use any acceptable photo ID that has been expired for any length of time, provided that it did not expire until after their 70th birthday.
For more information about photo IDs, visit www.voterid.nc.gov.