South Carolina’s voter ID law doesn’t discriminate against blacks and allows minorities to cast ballots even if they don’t have proper identification, attorneys for the state told a panel of federal judges Monday. Attorneys for the Justice Department and the League of Women Voters of South Carolina countered that the law is designed to disenfranchise tens of thousands of black state residents by making it harder for them to vote. Monday’s closing arguments followed a week-long trial that will decide if the ID law, which requires a valid government-issued ID to vote, will take effect.
Even if the judges issue a decision before November declaring the law valid, it’s unlikely it would be in place in time for this year’s election. State officials have said they need at least 90 days to inform voters of the new ID requirements and train poll workers in new procedures. Justice officials rejected the law as discriminatory after the state enacted in May last year. The state then filed suit. South Carolina is required to win approval from the Justice Department or federal courts before making any changes to its voting laws because the state has a history of discriminating against minority voters.
Full Article: Closing arguments for S.C. voter ID law – USATODAY.com.