North Carolina

NC lurches toward elections with voter photo ID | NC Newsline

Published

1 year ago

July 25, 2023

NC lurches toward elections with voter photo ID | NC Newsline

Pamela Pearson knows that getting a photo ID for some people isn’t as easy as heading to the DMV.

Pearson is the North Carolina coordinator for VoteRiders, an organization with a mission to help eligible citizens get IDs they need to vote.

Getting an ID can be tough if you can’t take time off to get to the DMV, don’t have a way to get there, or can’t afford the fee to get a copy of a birth certificate, said Pearson.

“There are a lot of challenges facing people,” she said.

VoteRiders can help assemble the needed paperwork, cover costs for documents, and pay for Uber rides to the DMV, Pearson said.

For the first time since spring 2016, North Carolina voters are going to be asked for photo identification when they cast ballots in municipal elections this year. People who vote by mail will be asked to send a photocopy of their ID with their ballots.

Historically, voter turnout is lighter for municipal elections than for statewide elections. This year’s elections are something of a test run leading to 2024, when many more people will turn out to vote in presidential, congressional and legislative races.

Organizations that help people obtain ID, run voter registration drives, and work to boost voter education are getting the word out about with changes, a result of the implementation of the 2018 voter ID law. One important detail is that people without photo IDs can still vote with a provisional ballot if they fill out an extra form.

Drivers’ licenses, state ID cards, and passports can be used for voting purposes. Expired IDs will be accepted, as long as they aren’t more than a year out of date. Student and employee ID cards issued by universities and governments that are approved by the state Board of Elections can be used to vote.

County elections offices should begin offering photo IDs to registered voters by the end of this week, state elections board spokesman Patrick Gannon said in an email.

Voters were last asked for photo IDs during the 2016 primary, before an expansive 2013 elections law that included an ID requirement was thrown out by a federal court.

Last year, a 4-3 Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court upheld a decision blocking the 2018 voter ID law because it discriminates against Black voters. A new Republican majority on the Supreme Court quickly reversed that decision this year.

Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director, NC State Board of Elections, address state lawmakers. (Photo: Screengrab from NCGA video)

The state Board of Elections wanted to make an extensive outreach effort ahead of the municipal elections to tell people about the new photo ID requirement, but it does not have the money, state Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell told legislators last month.

Republican legislative leaders have not agreed on a new spending plan for the budget year, which began more than three weeks ago. The senior budget writer for the state House predicted no agreement until mid-August.

In-person voting starts Sept. 12 in Charlotte and Sanford. Absentee ballots for these elections must be ready by Aug. 11. Other municipalities across the state have elections on Oct. 10 or Nov. 7.

You Can Vote, an organization that concentrates on voter registration, isn’t talking much about ID because, as of mid-July, rules hadn’t been finalized, said Kate Fellman, founder and executive director.

“We’re waiting until a little closer to the election, when people start picking up interest” and when rules are in place, she said.

For now, Fellman is emphasizing that people should vote even if they don’t have a photo ID. The law allows the voters to fill out an ID Exception Form and then complete a ballot. Voters without IDs can cast provisional ballots if they have a “reasonable impediment” to securing them, such as lack of transportation or necessary documents. Those ballots must be counted if the exception forms are filled out accurately.

Exception forms will be available for people voting by mail, as well. The forms may help people who vote by mail and do not have access to photocopiers.

The new photo ID requirement has Democracy NC planning for the first time to launch its Election Protection program for municipal elections, said Jean-Patrick Grillet, the organization’s research manager. Anticipating confusion on the part of voters and poll workers, Democracy NC will have election protection representatives at select polling places.

Representatives will be at early voting locations, polling places in low-income neighborhoods and near community college campuses, Grillet said.

Rural elections offices don’t have as many workers as offices in urban counties, and it takes longer for rural residents to get to DMV offices, creating a stark rural-urban divide when it comes to preparing for and implementing voter ID, he said.

“It’s a really bleak situation for rural voters, especially rural voters who are not drivers,” Grillet said.

Democracy NC is concerned about a section of the law that allows precinct officials to challenge voters if they don’t think the IDs they present are really theirs.

There’s a worry that voters with IDs in Surry County will be challenged, he said. Election deniers are particularly active there. Two Surry elections board members were removed from office earlier this year for refusing to certify the November 2022 election results.

“There are lots of logistical unknowns,” Grillet said. “This is going to be a very challenging election season. It’s a test run on how we’re going to respond to voter ID.”

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North Carolina

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

Published

3 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical depression over Cuba. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday, bringing impacts to the Carolinas around the middle of next week.

Heavy rainfall and flooding are the primary impacts expected, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

“Gusty winds are also possible, but it is too early to predict specific impacts in great detail at this time,” the weather service said.

At the same time, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and some flooding associated with front expected to stall inland this weekend.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of the tropical depression, which would be name Debby if it becomes a tropical storm, was over Cuba and moving west-northwest near 15 mph. The hurricane center said a turn toward the northwest is forecast for Saturday, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastwardmotion Sunday night and Monday.

Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected throughout the day Saturday. Faster strengthening is possible Sunday, with the storm nearing hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said.

STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.

Here’s a look at what we can expect in the Wilmington area, according to the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Wind

The probability of tropical storm force winds has increased, especially for the South Carolina coast. The most likely time of arrival of for northeast South Carolina is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and for Southeastern North Carolina is during Wednesday morning.

Rain

The potential for significant rainfall exists with 8 to 12 inches possible from near Cape Fear to portions of thenortheast South Carolina coast. Flash flooding and urban flooding are possible. Some rivers, including the North Cape Fear River and the Waccamaw River, could exceed flood stage next week.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Enter your address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby

Marine impacts

Rough surf, including dangerous rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are expected this weekend and will persist into the upcoming week.

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the NC coast, it’s never too early to be prepared.

GET READY: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here’s what to know if you live in the Wilmington area.

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North Carolina

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

Published

10 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center continues to show ENC in the cone of uncertainty.(WITN)

It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Storms are possible Saturday through Monday as a developing tropical system gets closer.(WITN)

The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.

What We Know, What We Don't — What We Know, What We Don’t(WITN)

This is a reminder that we are heading into the heart of the hurricane season and to make sure your emergency supplies are ready.

Stay with WITN and WITN.com as we continue to track this system over the coming days and monitor the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

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North Carolina

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy $3 quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Published

17 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Christopher Baker of Leesburg, Alabama was on a work trip in Hickory, North Carolina, when he thought he’d try his luck on a lotto game. It turned out to be a lucrative Powerball win.

An Alabama man on a work trip in North Carolina bought a $3 Quick Pick Powerball ticket on a whim and walked away with a six-figure windfall.

Christopher Baker of Leesburg in northeastern Alabama bought his lucky ticket in July in Hickory, North Carolina, where had been traveling for work, according to Powerball.

When the numbers were drawn, Baker says he had to do a double-take when he realized he had a $100,000 winning ticket. He had matched four white balls and the red Powerball, which would have been $50,000, but a 2X multiplier doubled the win and the disbelief.

“I just kept looking at it to make sure I was reading it right,” he laughed, according to Powerball. “I told my family but they didn’t believe me. either.”

Baker, who called his win “a shocker.” said he plans to save his winnings to buy a house.

Baker will take home $71,501 after federal and state taxes are withheld.

How to play the Powerball

In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.

To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Players can also ask a cashier for a “Quick Pick” where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there’s no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.

Where to purchase tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

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