North Carolina § 163-82 - 8. Voter registration cards.

§ 163-82. 8. Voter registration cards.

Authority to Issue Card. - With the approval of the board of county commissioners, the county board of elections may issue to each voter in the county a voter registration card, or may issue cards to all voters registered after January 1, 1995. Content and Format of Card. - At a minimum, the voter registration card shall: List the voter's name, address, and voting place; Contain the address and telephone number of the county board of elections, along with blanks to report a change of address within the county, change of name, and change of party affiliation; and Be wallet size. Ways County Board and Registrant May Use Card. - If the county board of elections issues voter registration cards, the county board may use that card as a notice of tentative approval of the voter's application pursuant to G.S. 163-82.7(c), provided that the mailing contains the statements and information required in that subsection. The county board may also satisfy the requirements of G.S. 163-82.15(b), 163-82.16(b), or 163-82.17(b) by sending the registrant a replacement of the voter registration card to verify change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation. A registrant may use the card to report a change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation, satisfying G.S. 163-82.15, 163-82.16, or 163-82.17. Card as Evidence of Registration. - A voter registration card shall be evidence of registration but shall not preclude a challenge as permitted by law. Display of Card May Not Be Required to Vote. - No county board of elections may require that a voter registration card be displayed in order to vote. Authority to Issue Card. - With the approval of the board of county commissioners, the county board of elections may issue to each voter in the county a voter registration card, or may issue cards to all voters registered after January 1, 1995. Content and Format of Card. - At a minimum, the voter registration card shall: List the voter's name, address, and voting place; Contain the address and telephone number of the county board of elections, along with blanks to report a change of address within the county, change of name, and change of party affiliation; and Be wallet size. No voter registration card may be issued by a county board of elections unless the State Board of Elections has approved the format of the card. Ways County Board and Registrant May Use Card. - If the county board of elections issues voter registration cards, the county board may use that card as a notice of tentative approval of the voter's application pursuant to G.S. 163-82.7(c), provided that the mailing contains the statements and information required in that subsection. The county board may also satisfy the requirements of G.S. 163-82.15(b), 163-82.16(b), or 163-82.17(b) by sending the registrant a replacement of the voter registration card to verify change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation. A registrant may use the card to report a change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation, satisfying G.S. 163-82.15, 163-82.16, or 163-82.17. Card as Evidence of Registration. - A voter registration card shall be evidence of registration but shall not preclude a challenge as permitted by law. Display of Card May Not Be Required to Vote. - No county board of elections may require that a voter registration card be displayed in order to vote. No voter registration card may be issued by a county board of elections unless the State Board has approved the format of the card. History (1901, c. 89, ss. 18, 21; Rev., ss. 4322, 4323; C.S., ss. 5946, 5947; 1923, c. 111, s. 3; 1933, c. 165, s. 5; 1947, c. 475; 1953, c. 843; 1955, c. 800; 1957, c. 784, ss. 3, 4; 1961, c. 382; 1963, c. 303, ss. 1, 2; 1967, c. 761, s. 3; c. 775, s. 1; 1969, c. 750, ss. 1, 2; 1977, c. 626, s. 1; 1979, c. 539, s. 5; c. 766, s. 2; 1981, c. 33, s. 2; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1265, s. 6; 1983, c. 553; 1985, c. 260, s. 1; 1991, c. 363, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1032, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 762, s. 2; 2015-103, s. 8(f); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-144, s. 3.1(b); 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).) Prior Law in Force. - In the case of NAACP v. McCrory, the defendants were enjoined from implementing certain portions of Session Laws 2013-381 and Session Laws 2015-103, relating to photo IDs and changes to early voting, same-day registration, out-of-precinct voting, and preregistration, and the pertinent statutory provisions in effect prior to those amendments were declared to be in full force (Case 1:13-cv-00658-TDS-JEP Document 455 (M.D.N.C. 2016). The Revisor is informed that as a result, the version of this section that the State Board is actually enforcing is as follows: § 163-82.8. Voter registration cards. Editor's Note. - This section was recodified as now former G.S. 163A-869 by Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3. Former G.S. 163A-869 was then re-recodified as this section by Session Laws 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), effective January 31, 2019. The historical citation from the former section has been added to this section as re-recodified. Session Laws 2015-103, s. 8(h), made the amendment to subsection (e) of this section by Session Laws 2015-103, s. 8(f), applicable to primaries and elections conducted on or after January 1, 2016. Session Laws 2018-146, s. 3.1(b), effective January 31, 2019, repealed Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3, which had recodified this section. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2015-103, s. 8(f), effective January 1, 2016, added the second sentence of subsection (e). For applicability, see editor's note. Session Laws 2018-144, s. 3.1(b), effective December 19, 2018, deleted the second sentence of subsection (e), which read, "A county board of elections may notify a voter that the voter's registration card may be used for the required identification in conjunction with a reasonable impediment declaration in accordance with G.S. 163A-1147."