Mississippi’s voter ID initiative heads to feds

Mississippi’s voter ID initiative heads to feds

JACKSON — Mississippi officials are confident the state’s new voter ID constitutional amendment will pass muster despite the Justice Department’s rejection of a similar South Carolina law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.

“The Supreme Court has ruled that voter ID is constitutional, and we believe that Mississippi’s plan for implementing voter ID will be constitutional as well,” says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

Under the federal 1965 Voting Rights Act, both states must seek preclearance from federal officials before making changes to election procedures because of their history of discrimination against black voters.

AP
12/27/11