U.S. Court Denies Appeal On Voter I.D.

The federal appeals court in Atlanta today denied a request to set aside an injunction barring enforcement of the state's new voter ID requirement in the upcoming municipal elections held statewide.

In a brief order, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a motion by the state Attorney General's Office to throw out a order last week by U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy in Rome that suspended enforcement of the law. The decision was made by 11th Circuit Judges Stanley Birch, Joel Dubina and Frank Hull.

"We are gratified that the court's order sustains the protection of the right of all registered voters in Georgia to vote this vote, whether or not they can pay for a photo ID," said Neil Bradley of the ACLU Voting Rights Project. "We're confident that as the case proceeds in the District Court a final injunction will be issued."

In a flurry of motions last week, state attorneys accused Murphy of wrongly substituting his judgment for that of the state Legislature, and of creating "a constitutional right to vote in person."

I think the state of Georgia should put this item on the ballot and let the people decide. If they did, I am sure it would pass overwhelmingly. I am sick and tired of hearing the "its nothing but a poll tax" argument, and I have addressed that in all my previous voter ID posts.

My opinion on this matter is still the same. The argument against voter ID has nothing to do with "those who cannot pay for an ID". I have yet to see one argument from those against this law that actually makes any common sense.

Then again, that too is not surprising.