2015 North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws.
Article 14A - Voting.
§ 163-166.15 - 15. Reasonable impediment declarations.

163-166.15. Reasonable impediment declarations.

(a) Any voter who does not comply with the photo identification requirement of G.S. 163-166.13(a) due to a reasonable impediment that prevents the voter from obtaining photo identification may vote a provisional official ballot in accordance with this section.

(b) The voter shall complete a reasonable impediment declaration on a form provided by the State Board declaring that the voter meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Is the same individual who personally appeared at the polling place.

(2) Cast the provisional ballot while voting in person in accordance with this Article or G.S. 163-227.2.

(3) Suffers from a reasonable impediment that prevents the voter from obtaining photo identification. The voter also shall list the impediment, as set forth in subsection (e) of this section, unless otherwise prohibited by State or federal law.

(c) The voter shall also present identification in the form of (i) a copy of a document listed in G.S. 163-166.12(a)(2) or the voter registration card issued to the voter by the county board of elections or (ii) the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number and the voter's date of birth. Upon compliance with this section, the voter may cast a provisional ballot. The declaration and a notation on the declaration form that the voter has provided the required identification shall be submitted with the provisional ballot envelope to the county board of elections and shall be counted in accordance with G.S. 163-182.1B.

(d) If a voter fails to present identification, as required in subsection (c) of this section, but completes a reasonable impediment declaration, the voter shall be permitted to vote a provisional official ballot. The declaration and a notation on the declaration form that the voter has not provided the required identification shall be submitted with the provisional ballot envelope to the county board of elections. The ballot shall be counted in accordance with G.S. 163-182.1B if the voter presents the required identification to the county board of elections in accordance with G.S. 163-182.1B.

(e) The reasonable impediment declaration form provided by the State Board shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) Separate boxes that a voter may check to identify the reasonable impediment, including at least the following:

a. Lack of transportation.

b. Disability or illness.

c. Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain photo identification.

d. Work schedule.

e. Family responsibilities.

f. Lost or stolen photo identification.

g. Photo identification applied for but not received by the voter voting in person.

h. Other reasonable impediment. If the voter checks the "other reasonable impediment" box, a further brief written identification of the reasonable impediment shall be required, including the option to indicate that State or federal law prohibits listing the impediment.

(2) A space for the voter to provide the last four digits of the Social Security number and the voter's date of birth, if the voter opts to provide this information as identification in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

(3) A space to note whether the voter has provided a copy of the document listed in G.S. 163-166.12(a)(2) or the voter registration card issued to the voter by the county board of elections. (2015-103, s. 8(d).)