Justice Dept. objects to Texas voter ID law

Department says many Hispanic voters lack state-issued ID

3/12/2012

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s civil rights division has objected to the new photo ID requirement for voters in Texas, saying many Hispanic voters lack state-issued identification.

The department says the state has failed to show that the newly enacted law has neither a discriminatory purpose nor effect.

In a letter to Texas officials, the Justice Department says Hispanic voters in Texas are as much as 120 percent more likely than non-Hispanic voters to lack a driver’s license or personal state-issued photo ID.