RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An appeals court has quickly decided it won’t delay enforcement of its ruling striking down North Carolina’s photo identification requirement and other election restrictions, including reducing early in-person voting by seven days.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the stay Thursday, one day after state leaders’ attorneys requested that last week’s ruling be set aside as they prepare to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case.
A 4th Circuit panel had determined a 2013 law Republicans approved amounted to intentional discrimination of black voters.
Thursday’s order says the harm to disenfranchised voters outweighs granting a delay. Last week’s injunction means no voter ID mandate and 17 days of early voting with same-day registration.
The state has other options to seek a delay.