Late Monday, the state concluded its defense of North Carolina’s hugely popular photo voter ID requirement against one of several frivolous lawsuits filed by political opponents of the law.

Despite more than 30 other states having voter ID requirements and a similar law being upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 2008, far-left special interest groups have spent years filing duplicative lawsuits in multiple courts attempting to block the commonsense policy in North Carolina.

Polls – including those commissioned by groups challenging the law – consistently show the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians support voter ID. And while opponents made misleading claims and presented flawed and erroneous data from a professor hired by the Obama Justice department during the trial, they were unable to offer a single witness who would be unable to vote under the law.

“Requiring photo ID to ensure voters are who they say they are is commonsense and supported by most North Carolinians – and the constant, costly political exercises by far-left special interest groups won’t change those facts,” said Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee Co-Chairmen Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett) and Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg). “Those who continue to file frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to erase their losses at the ballot box are directly responsible for the increased costs of defending the law – and they should be held accountable to our taxpayers.”

The voter ID law continues to ensure any North Carolina citizen who wants to vote will have that opportunity. The law establishes a list of valid government-issued photo IDs that voters can present at their polling places, and allows anyone without a photo ID to obtain one at no cost through the Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, North Carolina adopted an extended roll-out of the ID requirement which included extensive voter outreach and training over nearly two years to help make sure all citizens are aware of the requirements and can continue to exercise their constitutional right to vote.