Justice Dept halts South Carolina voter suppression law
Poll tax receipt from the 1930s. Southern states used such taxes to prevent African Americans from voting
The Justice Department on Friday blocked a new South Carolina law that would require voters to present photo identification, saying the law would disproportionately suppress turnout among eligible minority voters. The move was the first time since 1994 that the department has exercised its powers under the Voting Rights Act to block a voter identification law. In a letter to the South Carolina government, Thomas E. Perez, the assistant attorney for civil rights, said that allowing the new requirement to go into effect would have “significant racial disparities.” He cited data supplied by the state as showing that there were “81,938 minority citizens who are already registered to vote and who lack” such identification, and that these voters are nearly 20 percent more likely be “disenfranchised” by the change than white voters.
Gov. Nikki Haley denounced the decision, accusing the Obama administration of “bullying” the state. “It is outrageous, and we plan to look at every possible option to get this terrible, clearly political decision overturned so we can protect the integrity of our electoral process and our 10th Amendment rights,” she said in a statement. Under the Voting Rights Act, an election rule or practice that disproportionately affects minority voters is illegal - even if there is no sign of discriminatory intent. South Carolina is one of several states that, because of a history of discriminatory practices, must prove that a measure would not disproportionately discourage minority voting. Such states must receive “pre-clearance” from the Justice Department or a federal court before any proposed change to elections rules can take place.[1.]
I think this is a great. While several arguments have been made that voter id cards can be provided free of charge, many states require birth certificates, which are not free. There is also a case pending in Wisconsin, where Ruthelle Frank, an 84 year old woman who was not born in a hospital, but at home, and consequently had no birth certificate, would be required to spend hundreds of dollars in court costs. Ms. Frank has voted with no previous issues for most of her life; and she's currently a plaintiff in a lawsuit brought before a Federal judge to overturn Wisconsin's new voter ID laws.
Ruthelle Frank of Wisconsin, will not be able to vote under current Wisconsin law
The Brennan Justice Center released a study earlier this year showing that nearly 5 million people would be disenfranchised as a result of new laws enacted by Republican state legislatures.
[1.] Source: New York Times article "Justice Dept. Cites Race in Halting Law Over Voter ID."