Anyone convicted of a felony in North Carolina would have to complete their sentence, probation or parole, then wait five more years before attempting to regain voter status under SB 721 — which would also institute photo identification for voters and other changes in North Carolina voting rights. Felons would additionally have to provide affidavits as to their “upstanding moral character” and get the unanimous approval of their board of elections. Primary sponsor of the bill, which is currently in the Committee on Rules and Operations, is E.S. “Buck” Newton of Wilson, who calls it a compromise measure. Critics say the bill is racially biased.
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