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jenmito

(37,326 posts)
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 02:34 PM Mar 2012

DOJ blocks Texas voter ID law

The Department of Justice is blocking a Texas law that would require all voters to present photo identification to vote, likely further fueling an intense partisan debate on this issue.

In a letter to Texas officials, Thomas Perez, head of DOJ's Office of Civil Rights, argued the law could disproportionately impact Latino voters, who are more likely than white voters not to currently have driver's licenses or other kinds of photo identification.

"Hispanic registered voters are more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic registered voters to lack such identification," Perez wrote.

The Department of Justice also blocked South Carolina's voter identification law in December, arguing it would disproportionally affect black and elderly voters.

http://www.thegrio.com/politics/doj-blocks-texas-voter-id-law.php

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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DOJ blocks Texas voter ID law (Original Post) jenmito Mar 2012 OP
Excellent news! DevonRex Mar 2012 #1
My pleasure! jenmito Mar 2012 #3
Neither Tenn. nor Wisconsin subject to Section 5 of the VRA Gothmog Mar 2012 #7
Thanks for the info.! n/t jenmito Mar 2012 #11
Could you explain further? tkmorris Mar 2012 #12
Never mind actually, the answers were easy to find tkmorris Mar 2012 #13
That is a good general discussion Gothmog Mar 2012 #15
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Gothmog Mar 2012 #14
OK... I understand Wisconsin, but why not Tennessee? Fawke Em Mar 2012 #23
A judge in WI just blocked the photo ID law! Al Sharpton just reported it. n/t jenmito Mar 2012 #22
addresing 2 out of 31 states xxqqqzme Mar 2012 #2
I think your facts are a little off: jenmito Mar 2012 #4
Sorry. Just familiar w/ xxqqqzme Mar 2012 #9
Also, Cali_Democrat Mar 2012 #8
Agree - just difficult xxqqqzme Mar 2012 #10
Does this mean Tennessee's similar law gets blocked, too? Fawke Em Mar 2012 #5
This is about TX. n/t jenmito Mar 2012 #6
I know - but until the discussion upthread, but after my comment, Fawke Em Mar 2012 #24
I don't understand why, either, but PA IS covered by Section 5 of the VRA and they're about to jenmito Mar 2012 #25
R#10 & K n/t UTUSN Mar 2012 #16
Thanks! n/t jenmito Mar 2012 #17
Y si ustedes no saben, Hispanic voting bock is largely Democratic here. w8liftinglady Mar 2012 #18
That's good to know! jenmito Mar 2012 #20
thank you. an effort that might actually effect me. though i almost always have dl seabeyond Mar 2012 #19
I'm glad it might affect you... jenmito Mar 2012 #21

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
7. Neither Tenn. nor Wisconsin subject to Section 5 of the VRA
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 03:05 PM
Mar 2012

I am sorry but neither Tenn. nor Wisconsin are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act which is the basis of this action.

There are several lawsuits pending in Wisconsin and two different judges have enjoined the Wisconsin act

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
14. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 03:42 PM
Mar 2012

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act only applies to a dozen or so southern states that have a history of discrimination against minorities. States that are subject to Section 5 of the VRA have to pre-clear any changes that may affect the voting rights of minorities. The DOJ has already objected to the South Carolina voter id law and so no one was surprised when the DOJ objected to the Texas act. Tenn. and Wisconsin are not states covered by the Voting Rights Act and so these states do not need to preclear all changes in voting rights. Texas, South Caronlina, Florida and Mississippi are all states covered by Section 5 of the VRA. The DOJ also blocked some Florida laws on voter registration and early voting last week or so.

I hope that this helps.

BTW, two different judges in Wisconsin have enjoined the Wisconsin voter id law. One decision was on state law grounds and I am not sure what is covered by the court that issued an injunction today.

Fawke Em

(11,366 posts)
23. OK... I understand Wisconsin, but why not Tennessee?
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 06:47 PM
Mar 2012

Tennessee was a member of the CSA. Looks like my state would be covered.

Damnit. That sucks.

xxqqqzme

(14,887 posts)
2. addresing 2 out of 31 states
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 02:40 PM
Mar 2012

w/ photo ID requirements. Moving kind of slow over at DoJ. Guess voting rights not a big priority?

jenmito

(37,326 posts)
4. I think your facts are a little off:
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 02:49 PM
Mar 2012

"Thirty-one states require all voters to show ID before voting at the polls. In 15 of these states, the ID must include a photo of the voter; in the remaining 16 states non-photo forms of ID are acceptable."

http://www.uaw.org/articles/new-voter-identification-laws-take-effect-several-states

xxqqqzme

(14,887 posts)
10. Agree - just difficult
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 03:20 PM
Mar 2012

w/ rethug controlled legislators.

Guess the powers that have the $$$$$ decided the voting machine thing was too obvious so they just started buying state legislators. Cheaper in the long run and much faster results.

Fawke Em

(11,366 posts)
24. I know - but until the discussion upthread, but after my comment,
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 06:48 PM
Mar 2012

I thought that maybe Tennessee would be covered by the same law.

It boggles my mind why Tennessee wouldn't be included in the Voting Rights Act as it IS a Southern state.

jenmito

(37,326 posts)
25. I don't understand why, either, but PA IS covered by Section 5 of the VRA and they're about to
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 07:04 PM
Mar 2012

pass a bill into law to ALSO require photo ID. I'm confident the DOJ will block THAT one, too, and PA is a swing state (kind of).

w8liftinglady

(23,278 posts)
18. Y si ustedes no saben, Hispanic voting bock is largely Democratic here.
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 04:46 PM
Mar 2012

This is awesome news,as Texas was also forced to a new redistricting map which provided a more diverse population.There is one new district in my area that was formerly "Red" that will most decidedly vote "Blue" next election.

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
19. thank you. an effort that might actually effect me. though i almost always have dl
Mon Mar 12, 2012, 04:46 PM
Mar 2012

sometimes i just have voter card.... and i have still been able to vote. it is relatively easy here in texas. i like it that way.

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