League of Women Voters, NAACP join lawsuit over South Carolina's voter ID law

League of Women Voters, NAACP join lawsuit over South Carolina's voter ID law
By Meg Kinnard
Associated Press
Thursday, April 5, 2012


COLUMBIA, S.C. — The League of Women Voters and the NAACP on Wednesday became the latest groups allowed to take part in a legal challenge over South Carolina’s new voter identification law.

The groups join the American Civil Liberties Union as supporters of the U.S. Department of Justice in its defense against a lawsuit filed by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. A panel of three federal judges is considering the case, which is being heard in Washington.

The League wrote to the court last month, arguing that the law would be a hindrance to its Election Day duties of helping with a voter protection hotline and would also mean that the League is able to spend less time registering new voters and talking about the importance of casting ballots.

Attorneys for the NAACP said the law would keep black voters from being able to cast ballots and said it represents five black Benedict College students who wouldn’t be able to use their school-issued ID cards at the polls.

Passed by a Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Nikki Haley, the law requires voters to present government-issued photo IDs at the polls. The state is also required to determine how many voters lack state-issued IDs so that the Election Commission can inform them of the new law.

more...

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2012-04-05/league-women-voters-naacp-join-lawsuit-over-south-carolinas-voter-id-law