North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 08 - ELECTIONS
Chapter 17 - PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
Section 17 .0101 - VERIFICATION OF PHOTO IDENTIFICATION DURING IN-PERSON VOTING

(1) The photo identification is of the type acceptable for voting purposes pursuant to G.S. 163-166.16(a). A valid United States passport book or passport card is acceptable pursuant to G.S. 163-166.16(a)(1)c.

(2) The photograph appearing on the photo identification bears a reasonable resemblance to the person presenting to vote. A reasonable resemblance is a similarity in appearance such that an ordinary person would conclude that the photograph on the identification is more likely than not the person presenting to vote. The election official shall make this determination based on the totality of the circumstances, bearing in mind that there are many reasons that a person's appearance could change (such as, for illustrative purposes only, changes in hair, facial hair, or weight; or the effects of medical conditions, aging, or medical treatment). The election official shall also be guided by the purpose of the photo identification requirement, which is to confirm the person presenting to vote is the registered voter on the voter registration records.

(3) The name appearing on the photo identification is the same as or substantially equivalent to the name contained in the voter's voter registration record. The election official shall make this determination based on the totality of the circumstances, construing all evidence, along with any explanation or documentation voluntarily offered by the person presenting to vote, in the light most favorable to that person. The election official shall consider the name appearing on the photo identification to be substantially equivalent to the name contained in the registration record if differences are attributable to a reasonable explanation, which shall include but is not limited to one or more of the following reasons:

(1) If the election official determines that the photo identification meets all the requirements of Paragraph (a) of this Rule, then the election official shall allow the person to vote pursuant to G.S. 163-166.7.

(2) If the election official determines that the photo identification is not an acceptable type of photo identification under Subparagraph (a)(1) of this Rule, the election official shall inform the person presenting to vote of the reasons for that determination (such as, for illustrative purposes only, that the photo identification is expired when that type of acceptable photo identification requires an expiration date) and shall invite the person to provide any other photo identification that is acceptable under Subparagraph (a)(1) of this Rule that the person may have. If the person presenting to vote does not produce photo identification that meets all the requirements of Subparagraph (a)(1) of this Rule, then the election official shall inform the person presenting to vote of the options specified in Paragraph (e) of this Rule.

(3) If the election official determines that the photo or name on the photo identification do not satisfy Subparagraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this Rule, the election official shall enter a challenge pursuant to G.S. 163-87 and immediately notify the voting site's judges of election of the challenge. The judges of election shall then conduct a challenge hearing, in accordance with the procedures in G.S. 163-88. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judges of election shall vote on whether the photo identification of the person presenting to vote bears a reasonable resemblance to that person or whether the name appearing on the photo identification is the same as or substantially equivalent to the name contained in the voter's voter registration record, applying the same standards as the election official initially reviewing the identification under Subparagraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3). Each judge shall record the judge's findings in writing. Only if the judges of election unanimously find that the photo identification does not bear a reasonable resemblance to the person presenting to vote, or that the name appearing on the photo identification is not the same as or substantially equivalent to the name contained in the voter's voter registration record, the voter shall be offered the options to vote by provisional ballot in accordance with Paragraph (e) of this Rule. Absent such a unanimous finding, the person shall vote with a regular ballot pursuant to G.S. 163-166.7. To the extent the General Statutes do not specifically address judges of election at one-stop sites, for the purposes of this Subparagraph, "judges of election" includes a group of three one-stop officials designated by the county board to hear a challenge to a voter's photo identification, not all of whom are affiliated with the same political party. When the judges of election conduct a challenge hearing under this Rule and the challenge is to a curbside voter, to ensure the voting enclosure remains properly attended, the judges may separately visit the curbside location to review the evidence.

(1) To vote by provisional ballot with an affidavit claiming an exception to the identification requirement, pursuant to G.S. 163-166.16(d). If the voter has completed the affidavit as required in G.S. 163-166.16(d) and is otherwise eligible to vote, the county board shall count the provisional ballot unless the county board unanimously finds that the affidavit is false. The county board shall substantiate any finding of falsity with grounds recorded in a written decision. Before making a final finding of falsity, the county board shall provide the voter notice and an opportunity to be heard at a meeting of the county board prior to completion of the canvass on any grounds that the county board is considering regarding the falsity of the affidavit. Notice of the grounds for falsity and the opportunity for a hearing shall be provided by U.S. mail and by any email address or phone number that the county board possesses for the voter.

(2) To vote by provisional ballot and then bring to the office of the county board identification acceptable under G.S. 163-166.16 and this Rule before the end of business on the business day before county canvass. If the voter brings photo identification to the office of a county board in a timely manner, a county board staff member shall examine the photo identification in accordance with Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Rule. After examining the photo identification, the staff member shall proceed as follows: