Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously determined the NC General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enactment of Voter ID law:
“I applaud the UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT on its unanimous and well-reasoned opinion that determined the North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting a voter ID law and other discriminatory voting procedures including a limitation on early voting.
“The law addressed by the Court today was passed by the General Assembly one month following the suspension of a portion of the Voting Rights Act that required federal preclearance of voting changes. The legislature’s intent in enacting this law has now been found unconstitutional and unenforceable. The appellate court found that the trial court “ignored the inextricable link between race and politics in North Carolina.” The court went on to say that the election law changes have had a disproportionate impact on African American voters and no basis ever existed to support the law’s passage and enactment. The appellate court is requiring the state to completely cure this unconstitutional voting law.
“Today, the federal court has validated my long held view that this law discriminates against African American voters because of their race. It is my hope that the State of North Carolina will embrace this decision instead of pursuing costly appeals. North Carolina’s image has been tarnished by this and other discriminatory legislative enactments. By embracing this decision, the State of North Carolina will begin the process of restoring the state’s reputation for protecting the right to vote.”