Georgia: DOJ preclears voter ID law
AP reports: The U.S. Justice Department on Friday approved a Georgia law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. The measure's opponents immediately vowed to challenge it in federal court.
The decision, written by John Tanner, chief of the department's voting section, says that while Attorney General Alberto Gonzales doesn't object to the law, approval doesn't preclude lawsuits against it. ...
Democrats had argued the idea was a political move by the GOP to suppress voting among minorities, the elderly and the poor - all traditional bases for Democrats. Its opponents also included the AARP, League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The measure wipes out several currently accepted forms of voter identification other than photo IDs, including the use of Social Security cards, birth certificates or utility bills at the polls.
"Requiring valid, photographic identification is a common sense step to ensure voter integrity and sound elections," Gov. Sonny Perdue said Friday in a written statement. -- Macon Telegraph | 08/27/2005 | Justice Department approves Georgia's voter ID law