Georgia News3-ID Req at Polls-Unconstitutional?

This article tells of the controversy surrounding Georgia's requirement that voters show "government-issued photo ID" at the polls. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of two African-American voters in Georgia on the grounds that the ID requirement "poses a 'unique burden'" on voters, and thus violates the US Constitution, as well as the Georgia state constitution. The law has become a racial issue, however, as the bill is charged with being discriminatory "'against minorites, the elderly, the poor and the disabled.'" Georgia's requirement differs from that of other states, as other states allow non-government-issued IDs such as payroll checks and Social Security cards. Opponents of the bill argue that the $20 requirement to obtain an ID card, as well as the travel costs involved (since only "56 of Georgia's 159 counties offer the cards at Department of Driver Services offices)" violate the 24th Amendment, outlawing poll taxes. Opponents feel that African-Americans are mainly affected, since they are "'less affluent than whites and three times less likely to own or have access to a motor vehicle than whites,' according to the lawsuit." This is an interesting case, as the racial and constitutional implications surrounding the bill have lifted the issue to the attention of federal courts. This case has the makings of a great Supreme Court case. Whether or not it makes it there remains to be seen.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0905/19voterid.html