Republican lawmakers on Wednesday approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would require North Carolinians to have photo ID to vote by mail. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)
Republican lawmakers have approved a proposed constitutional amendment that asks North Carolinians to approve photo ID for those voting by mail.
The House passed the proposal 73-45, setting it up to appear on a future ballot. It cannot be vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper and requires a majority vote at a general election to be added to the constitution.
Senate Bill 921 requires all North Carolina voters to present photo ID — including those voting by mail. Current state law requires ID for all forms of voting; this amendment would officially enshrine it in the constitution.
House lawmakers did not, however, take up Senate Bill 920 — another proposed amendment that would cap North Carolina’s maximum income tax rate at 5 percent.
Both proposals were introduced and swiftly passed by the Senate earlier this month.
Income tax cuts and stricter regulations on photo ID have long been priorities for Republican lawmakers.
In 2018, a majority of voters approved similar versions of both proposals; they are tied up in court and could be made moot by the new proposals.