Federal Judge Upholds North Carolina Voter ID Law

Ruling is a victory for GOP lawmakers who passed the law in 2018

Mar. 26, 2026 at 11:38pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge has upheld North Carolina's photo voter identification law, rejecting arguments from civil rights groups that the requirement was enacted with discriminatory intent against Black and Latino voters. The ruling is a major legal victory for Republican legislative leaders who passed the law in late 2018, weeks after voters approved a constitutional amendment backing the idea.

Why it matters

The decision preserves one of the most permissive voter ID laws in the country, which Republicans argued was necessary to build voter confidence and prevent fraud, despite evidence that voter identity fraud is rare nationwide. Civil rights groups argued the law was intended to entrench Republican political power by discouraging Democratic-leaning voters from casting ballots.

The details

U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs acknowledged the law would disproportionately burden Black and Hispanic voters, with thousands potentially unable to cast ballots on Election Day. However, Biggs said recent court rulings required her to give "almost impenetrable deference" to the presumption that lawmakers acted in good faith. The state's voter ID law offers free ID cards and allows voters without photo ID to have their ballots counted if they fill out an exception form.

  • The voter ID law was passed by the Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature in late 2018.
  • Voters approved a constitutional amendment backing the voter ID requirement in 2018.
  • The law has been in effect since the 2023 municipal elections, after the state Supreme Court upheld it in a separate lawsuit.

The players

Loretta Biggs

U.S. District Judge who upheld North Carolina's voter ID law, despite acknowledging it would disproportionately burden minority voters.

Phil Berger

North Carolina state Senate leader who praised the judge's decision, saying it puts "to rest any doubt that our state's Voter I.D. law is constitutional."

Deborah Dicks Maxwell

President of the North Carolina NAACP, which filed the lawsuit challenging the voter ID law, calling the ruling "deeply disappointing and ignores the real and documented barriers" the law creates for certain voters.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“we can put to rest any doubt that our state's Voter I.D. law is constitutional.”

— Phil Berger, North Carolina state Senate leader

“deeply disappointing and ignores the real and documented barriers" that voter ID laws have on certain voters.”

— Deborah Dicks Maxwell, President, North Carolina NAACP

What’s next

No decision has been made on whether to appeal the ruling.

The takeaway

The court's decision upholds one of the most permissive voter ID laws in the country, which Republicans argued was necessary to build voter confidence and prevent fraud, despite evidence that voter identity fraud is rare. Civil rights groups argued the law was intended to suppress Democratic-leaning voters and entrench Republican political power.