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Controversial Abortion, Voter ID Bills Headed to North Carolina Governor

The Senate gave final approval to a measure giving the state Department of Health and Human Services the authority to regulate abortion clinics with the same standards as outpatient surgical centers.

North Carolina legislators spent Thursday in their annual mad dash to get long-discussed or never-seen proposals through the required votes before adjourning their session for the year.
 

The Senate gave final approval to a measure giving the state Department of Health and Human Services the authority to regulate abortion clinics with the same standards as outpatient surgical centers. Supporters said the tougher standards would make the procedure safer for women, while opponents said they're aimed at restricting the ability of women to decide by forcing clinics to close.

The House and Senate approved a Republican-backed measure that would require voters to present government-issued photo IDs at the polls and shortens early voting by a week. The measure also ends same-day voter registration and eliminates a popular high school civics program that registers thousands of students to vote in advance of their 18th birthday.


Both the abortion and voting measures go next to Gov. Pat McCrory.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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