By Anne Blytheablythe@newsobserver.com

RALEIGH: A federal judge has upheld North Carolina’s voter ID law in a ruling posted Monday evening.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder issued a 485-page ruling dismissing all claims in the challenge to the state’s sweeping 2013 election law overhaul.

Schroeder, a George W. Bush appointee, also upheld portions of the 2013 law that reduced the number of days people could vote early, eliminated same-day registration and voting and prohibited people from casting a ballot outside their precinct.

The decision comes nearly three months after a trial on the ID portion of the law.

Schroeder noted that North Carolina had “become progressive nationally” by permitting absentee voting, early voting for 17 days before the Election Day, a lengthy registration period, out-of-precinct voting on Election Day and a pre-registration program for 16-year-olds.

“In 2013, North Carolina retrenched,” Schroeder said in his opinion.

 Ultimately, though, Schroeder said the state had provided “legitimate state interests” in making the changes and the challengers failed to demonstrate that the law was unconstitutional.

more at Source: Federal judge upholds law requiring voter ID in NC elections | The Charlotte Observer