Arkansas voter ID law challenged in court by ACLU

Source: Associated Press

Arkansas voter ID law challenged in court by ACLU
By ANDREW DEMILLO | April 16, 2014 | Updated: April 16, 2014 4:15pm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A civil liberties group filed suit Wednesday to block a new Arkansas law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls before it is enforced for the first time statewide in the primary election next month.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed the suit in Pulaski County court on behalf of four voters it says will be harmed by the law, which was approved by the Republican-led Legislature last year. Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe vetoed the measure, but lawmakers overrode his objection with simple majority votes in the House and Senate.

"This puts more burdens on the voter than the Arkansas constitution permits...It only creates more trouble for people who have been voting all their lives," Rita Sklar, executive director of ACLU of Arkansas, told reporters after the lawsuit was filed. "It throws hurdles in front of them instead of making it easier for them to participate in the democratic process."

The new law is being challenged when the state is in the national political spotlight because of a hotly contested race that could tip the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor is being challenged by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton. Neither faces an opponent in the primary but outside money is pouring into Arkansas for advertising months before the general election in November.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Arkansas-voter-ID-law-challenged-in-court-by-ACLU-5407743.php?cmpid=usw