By — Gary Robertson, Associated Press Gary Robertson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/north-carolina-supreme-court-reverses-electoral-district-voter-id-rulings-decided-last-year Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter North Carolina Supreme Court reverses electoral district, voter ID rulings decided last year Politics Apr 28, 2023 1:24 PM EDT RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In massive victories for Republicans, North Carolina’s state Supreme Court on Friday threw out previous rulings that had declared illegal both redistricting maps for excessive partisanship and a photo voter identification law for being infected with racial bias. READ MORE: Supreme Court to hear arguments in North Carolina redistricting case The new edition of the court, which became a Republican majority this year following the election of two GOP justices, ruled after taking the unusual step of revisiting opinions made in December by the court’s previous iteration, when Democrats held a 4-3 seat advantage. The court held rehearings in March. The 5-2 decisions likely to mean that a photo ID mandate approved by the GOP-controlled legislature in late 2018 will be enforced for the 2024 elections. Legislators also should have greater latitude in drawing legislative seat boundaries for the next decade that will reinforce their General Assembly majorities and assist them in winning more seats within the state’s congressional delegation. Previous redistricting rulings in early 2022 had led to a congressional map that resulted in Democrats winning seven of the state’s 14 states. The court on Friday also overturned a trial court decision on when the voting rights of convicted felons can be restored. That means potentially tens of thousands of people convicted of felonies will have to keep waiting to completed their probation or parole or pay their fines to qualify to vote again. By — Gary Robertson, Associated Press Gary Robertson, Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In massive victories for Republicans, North Carolina’s state Supreme Court on Friday threw out previous rulings that had declared illegal both redistricting maps for excessive partisanship and a photo voter identification law for being infected with racial bias. READ MORE: Supreme Court to hear arguments in North Carolina redistricting case The new edition of the court, which became a Republican majority this year following the election of two GOP justices, ruled after taking the unusual step of revisiting opinions made in December by the court’s previous iteration, when Democrats held a 4-3 seat advantage. The court held rehearings in March. The 5-2 decisions likely to mean that a photo ID mandate approved by the GOP-controlled legislature in late 2018 will be enforced for the 2024 elections. Legislators also should have greater latitude in drawing legislative seat boundaries for the next decade that will reinforce their General Assembly majorities and assist them in winning more seats within the state’s congressional delegation. Previous redistricting rulings in early 2022 had led to a congressional map that resulted in Democrats winning seven of the state’s 14 states. The court on Friday also overturned a trial court decision on when the voting rights of convicted felons can be restored. That means potentially tens of thousands of people convicted of felonies will have to keep waiting to completed their probation or parole or pay their fines to qualify to vote again.