Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee Co-Chairmen Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett) and Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg) issued the following joint statement Friday after a federal judge upheld the state’s hugely popular photo voter ID requirement for the upcoming primary election:

“We appreciate the court’s thoughtful opinion, which not only rejects the plaintiffs’ desperate, partisan attempts to block a commonsense photo ID requirement just weeks before early voting is set to begin, but also validates the state’s comprehensive two-year effort to educate all North Carolinians about the new law.

“Like the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians who support photo ID, we are pleased voters will have this reasonable requirement in place for the March primary to help preserve the integrity of their elections.”