Republicans Sue to Block UNC Digital IDs as Valid Voter Identification in North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC – The Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party have filed a lawsuit to prevent the North Carolina State Board of Elections from allowing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s digital IDs to be used for voting. The lawsuit was filed in Wake County Superior Court, according to ABC11. The Republicans argue that these digital identifications do not comply with state laws requiring acceptable forms of voter ID to be physical, tangible items.

The dispute centers on UNC-Chapel Hill’s “Mobile UNC One Card,” a digital identification accessible on Apple phones, which is the first smartphone-based ID to qualify under state law. North Carolina Republicans contend that the State Board of Elections has overstepped its authority by approving the digital ID, expressing concerns that it could undermine the integrity of elections. “Once again, the NCSBE has violated the law in ways which undermine the integrity of our elections,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in a statement obtained by ABC11.

While the board has previously approved IDs from universities such as Duke and Campbell, the digital ID from UNC has become a significant point of contention. The lawsuit highlights that earlier statements by the board specified that “an image of a photo ID, either as a photocopy or a photo on a mobile device, is not one of the permitted forms of photo ID when voting in person,” according to details from WRAL. During the elections board meeting on August 20, board Democrats noted that UNC had taken specific measures to meet the state board’s requirements, including displaying features such as an expiration date on the digital One Card.

This legal dispute is part of a broader debate over ballot accessibility and voter ID laws in North Carolina. The Republican-led lawsuit argues that digital photo IDs could be more susceptible to tampering and might pose challenges for precinct workers, especially in the event of technical issues. This development follows the state’s 2018 voter ID law, which faced legal challenges over allegations of racial discrimination. The law was used in the 2023 municipal and March primary elections, during which fewer than 500 out of 1.8 million ballots were discarded due to ID problems, according to WRAL. The digital “One Card” allows UNC students various campus privileges, though physical ID alternatives are available for those without access to an Apple device or who choose not to use the digital version, as the News & Observer explains.

The outcome of this lawsuit could set important precedents for using digital IDs in elections, potentially affecting voter participation, particularly among tech-savvy young people. As the November election approaches, the debate over whether college-issued digital IDs can be used for voting remains ongoing in North Carolina. Given that North Carolina is a key battleground state where races are often closely contested, the results of this case could have significant implications beyond the state.