North Carolina State Board of Elections executive director Sam Hayes has issued a pair of statements on decisions issued Thursday in U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina.
Regarding NAACP v. Hirsch, Director Hayes said:
“Today’s decision is a strong vindication of the State Board of Elections’ implementation of North Carolina’s photo ID law. The State Board has always been committed to administering voter ID according to the letter and spirit of the law. This ruling confirms that the law, as enacted and implemented, meets legal standards and includes important protections to ensure voters can participate in our elections. Election security and voter accessibility are not competing priorities — they are two sides of the same coin, and North Carolina’s voter ID law reflects that balance.”
Regarding Democracy NC v. NCSBE, Director Hayes said:
“This decision affirms that same-day registration safeguards are constitutional and serve an important role in ensuring that registrants are who they say they are. We are pleased with the court’s ruling and appreciate its thorough review of this matter.”
Hayes said both rulings reinforce the State Board’s commitment to protecting election integrity while preserving lawful access to the ballot.
“Both of these decisions uphold important protections for North Carolina’s elections without limiting access for eligible voters.”