Politics Trumps Law On Georgia’s Voter ID Bill
Bush Political Appointee Ignores DOJ Staff Investigation
Today, the Washington Post reported that four of the five Justice Department lawyers and analysts reviewing the Georgia voter-ID law recommended that it be rejected as it violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act, but they were overruled by a political appointee in President Bush’s Justice Department. The lawyers and analysts said that the state of Georgia provided data that was inaccurate and incomplete and that the plan was “retrogressive,” meaning it was discriminatory to African-Americans and other minorities attempting to vote.
The complete Washington Post article, “Criticism of Voting Law Was Overruled; Justice Dept. Backed Georgia Measure Despite Fears of Discrimination,” can be read here. Excerpts follow:
“A team of Justice Department lawyers and analysts who reviewed a Georgia voter-identification law recommended rejecting it because it was likely to discriminate against black voters, but they were overruled the next day by higher-ranking officials at Justice, according to department documents.
The Justice Department has characterized the "pre-clearance" of the controversial Georgia voter-identification program as a joint decision by career and political appointees in the Civil Rights Division. Republican proponents in Georgia have cited federal approval of the program as evidence that it would not discriminate against African Americans and other minorities.
But an Aug. 25 staff memo obtained by The Washington Post recommended blocking the program because Georgia failed to show that the measure would not dilute the votes of minority residents, as required under the Voting Rights Act.
The memo, endorsed by four of the team's five members, also said the state had provided flawed and incomplete data. The team found significant evidence that the plan would be "retrogressive," meaning that it would reduce blacks' access to the polls.”
Today, the Washington Post reported that four of the five Justice Department lawyers and analysts reviewing the Georgia voter-ID law recommended that it be rejected as it violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act, but they were overruled by a political appointee in President Bush’s Justice Department. The lawyers and analysts said that the state of Georgia provided data that was inaccurate and incomplete and that the plan was “retrogressive,” meaning it was discriminatory to African-Americans and other minorities attempting to vote.
The complete Washington Post article, “Criticism of Voting Law Was Overruled; Justice Dept. Backed Georgia Measure Despite Fears of Discrimination,” can be read here. Excerpts follow:
“A team of Justice Department lawyers and analysts who reviewed a Georgia voter-identification law recommended rejecting it because it was likely to discriminate against black voters, but they were overruled the next day by higher-ranking officials at Justice, according to department documents.
The Justice Department has characterized the "pre-clearance" of the controversial Georgia voter-identification program as a joint decision by career and political appointees in the Civil Rights Division. Republican proponents in Georgia have cited federal approval of the program as evidence that it would not discriminate against African Americans and other minorities.
But an Aug. 25 staff memo obtained by The Washington Post recommended blocking the program because Georgia failed to show that the measure would not dilute the votes of minority residents, as required under the Voting Rights Act.
The memo, endorsed by four of the team's five members, also said the state had provided flawed and incomplete data. The team found significant evidence that the plan would be "retrogressive," meaning that it would reduce blacks' access to the polls.”
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