Justice: Evidence of Bias in Texas Voter ID Law

The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday there is substantial evidence Texas' voter identification law will discriminate against minorities.

The department's assertion came in papers filed in a Washington federal court explaining why Texas lawmakers should have to testify and turn over their communications regarding the law to a panel of judges considering whether the law can be implemented by the November election.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has argued lawmakers should not have to reveal internal deliberations.

"These discovery requests represent an unwarranted federal intrusion into the operations of the Texas Legislature," Abbott said. . .

Texas is one of nine states, most of them in the South, required to submit all changes to electoral law for federal approval, either by the Justice Department or the federal court in Washington. Texas has sued in federal court to have the voter ID law approved in time for the November general election.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/04/11/us/ap-us-texas-voter-id.html?hp