RALEIGH – Reviews come along party lines after a court ruling that upholds North Carolina’s voting laws, including a requirement to have a ID at the polls on election day.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina ruled that H.B. 589, does not violate the Voting Rights Act or the Fourteenth, Fifteenth or Twenty-Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

“The continuation of H.B. 589’s restrictive provisions is an affront to democracy,” said the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement. “Through widespread actions, rallies, marches and protests, we have said all along that we would accept no less than unabridged access to the ballot for all eligible voters. Just like those who carried on before us, we will continue our movement challenging regressive and discriminatory voter suppression tactics on behalf of African Americans, Latinos, seniors, students and all those for whom democracy has been denied.”

The view from supporters was much different, including a statement from Governor Pat McCrory:

"This ruling further affirms that requiring a photo ID in order to vote is not only common-sense, it's constitutional," said Governor McCrory. "Common practices like boarding an airplane and purchasing Sudafed require photo ID and thankfully a federal court has ensured our citizens will have the same protection for their basic right to vote."

The North Carolina Republican Party also issued a statement:

“In his ruling, District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder stated his decision was "based on actual historical facts, rather than speculation." According to the ruling: "After twenty-five days of trial and reviewing over 20,000 pages of record and the testimony of over 20 expert and 100 fact witnesses, and after considerable reflection, the court is in a position to evaluate the effect of SL 2013-381 based on actual historical facts, rather than speculation."