Durham County GOP to offer rides for IDs

DURHAM

The group is now offering the public free rides to the Department of Motor Vehicles for anyone who needs photo identification.

The provision requiring all North Carolina voters to have photo ID to vote doesn't take effect until 2016, but the Durham GOP says it is rolling out its program right now to get people the ID they need.

Durham County GOP Chairman Ted Hicks announced the program in a YouTube video.

Hicks argued the Election Reform Law was passed to protect the integrity of the voting process, and not to take voting rights away from black and poor voters. To prove his argument, the Durham GOP announced it will use volunteers to give free rides to the DMV.

Democrats are skeptical. Greensboro Rep. Alma Adams says she's suspicious of the GOP's motives, but Vice Chairman of the Durham GOP's Black Republican Committee Immanuel Jarvis defended the new effort.

"We figure instead of talking and debating and going back and forth, why don't we just help people who don't have ID," said Jarvis.

"It's going to suppress the vote," said Adams. "I think that's what it was designed to do. So, yeah I'm very suspicious about that. I think it's some kind of cover."

The free rides are being offered to any Durham County resident regardless of their political party.

The Durham GOP is urging Republican leaders in other counties to start similar programs.

See It On TV | Report A Typo |  Send Tip |  Get Alerts | Send us photos
Follow @abc11 on Twitter  |  Become a fan on Facebook

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.