Georgia News(Week 5) - Judge Stands behind Voter ID Ruling

A federal judge recently refused a request from Georgia that he lift his suspension of a contested state voter ID law, according to a recent article. Judge Harold Murphy ruled Tuesday that the law in question "imposes an unconstitutional poll tax and unduly burdens the right to vote." The Attorney General's office, however, feels different, citing the fact that "'the changes that injunction relief would bring at this time would disrupt" the upcoming elections.'" Judge Murphy refuted this claim, however, referring to the various opinions of poll workers. These opinions were in favor of the injuction, stating that keeping the injunction in effect will not hinder the voting process. Judge Murphy issued the injuction out of a fear that the law "[would] have the 'likely effect of causing a significant number of Georgians to forego going to the polls or forego obtaining and voting an absentee ballot.'" I agree with Judge Murphy's decision, as the voter ID law, described in a previous entry, would hinder the voter process and keep many people from the polls, an effect far more negative than the supposed effect that the Attorney General spoke of.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1005/21voter.html