§ 163-166.18.  Approval of employee identification cards for voting identification.

(a) The State Board shall approve the use of employee identification cards issued by a state or local government entity, including a charter school, for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16 if the following criteria are met:

(1) The head elected official or lead human resources employee of the state or local government entity or charter school submits documentation satisfactory to the State Board that the following true have been met and will not knowingly be violated with regard to employee identification cards issued during the approval period:

a. The identification cards that are issued by the state or local government entity or charter school contain photographs of the employees obtained by the state or local government entity or charter school employing entity or its agents or contractors, provided the photograph obtained (i) is a frontal image that includes the employee's face and (ii) represents a clear, accurate likeness of the employee to whom the identification card is issued. If the photograph is one not produced by the state or local government entity or charter school, the state or local government entity or charter school shall certify in detail the process used by the state or local government entity or charter school to ensure the photograph is that of the employee to whom the identification card is issued and shall certify that the process is designed to confirm the identity of the employee to whom the identification card is issued.

b. The identification cards are issued after an employment application or other process that includes one or more methods of confirming the identity of the employee using information that include, but are not limited to, the social security number, citizenship status, and birthdate of the employee.

c. Access to the equipment for producing the identification cards is restricted through security measures.

d. Misuse of the equipment for producing the identification cards would be grounds for termination of an employee.

e. State or local or charter school officials would report any misuse of identification card equipment they have knowledge of to law enforcement if G.S. 163-275(19) was potentially violated.

f. The cards issued by the state or local government entity or charter school on or after January 1, 2021, contain a date of expiration.

g. The state or local government entity or charter school will provide copies of employee identification cards to the State Board to assist with training purposes.

(2) The state or local government entity complies with any other reasonable security measures determined by the State Board to be necessary for the protection and security of the employee identification process.

(b) The State Board shall establish a schedule for such submissions and approvals. The State Board shall permit a State or local government entity or charter school with no changes to the prior election cycle's approval to submit a statement indicating no changes have been made by the State or local government entity or charter school. When the State Board approves for use the employee identification cards issued by a state or local government entity, including a charter school, for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16, such approval shall be valid for the period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the next even-numbered year.

(c) The State Board shall produce a list of participating employing entities every two years. The list shall be published on the State Board's Web site and distributed to every county board of elections. The State Board shall publish sample employee identification cards for each participating State or local government entity or charter school. (2018-144, s. 1.2(c); 2018-146, s. 3.1(a); 2019-22, s. 3.)