It has been eight weeks since the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, which has paved the way for states to make major changes to their election laws now that they are no longer subject to federal scrutiny.
Last week North Carolina became the latest to implement changes–the governor signed an election law overhaul that includes a voter ID requirement, reduces early voting hours, and prohibits same-day registration.
Governor Pat McCrory declined to be interviewed for this segment, but he defended the decision in a statement last week, saying critics of the law are employing “scare tactics.”
Michael Tomsic is a reporter for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina. He says what started as a simple voter ID bill took on a new life after the Supreme Court’s ruling in June. He joins The Takeaway to discuss the new law, which is considered to be the strictest in the country.