'Let me go and get one, just in case': Wake County Board of Elections host photo ID event for voters
The Wake County Board of Elections opened its office outside of regular hours Saturday to help voters comply with new photo identification requirements.
The board hosted an event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1200 North New Hope Road in Raleigh to allow voters to check their voter status, take their photo and print a new voter ID card.
It comes as North Carolina voters are being asked to show photo IDs in this fall’s municipal elections.
Dozens, including Nicholas Asbury, attended the event.
“I was just like, ‘let me go and get one,’ just in case,” Asbury said. “Because I know a lot of things are changing with the election.”
The event was open to any eligible voter residing in Wake County. No appointments were required and most people were finished in just a few minutes. All that voters needed Saturday was their name, date of birth, and last four digits of their social security number on a request form.
Wake County Elections director Olivia McCall said the event was to help people come in and get valid ID if they are unable to do so during the week.
"Monday through Friday is sometimes challenging for people to get out during business hours, so we wanted to give people an opportunity for people to come out on a Saturday," McCall explained. "For the most part, people have an acceptable ID, but what we're offering is a photo ID for people that don't have an acceptable form of ID"
In August, county boards of elections began issuing photo IDs to registered voters who do not already have an acceptable ID. While most voters will simply show their driver’s license to vote, others may choose to show other acceptable forms of ID (such as a passport), or some may choose to get a voter photo ID.
A list of accepted voter IDs is available on the state’s website.
Asbury said he already has acceptable ID, but he wanted to get a voter ID card just in case.
"It's very important for me to vote. Because all of the people that died for Black people to be able to vote," Asbury said. "For me to just brush it off like it's not important, that just not who I am."
Any voter interested in obtaining a free photo ID for voting purposes must visit their county board of elections office or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Wake County residents can still register to vote or update their information at the event prior to getting a photo ID.
