A new law passed in North Carolina that would severely limit the early voting period while implementing strict voter identification requirements has become a point of contention for the Department of Justice; Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to announce a suit accusing the state of racial discrimination, according to the Associated Press.
The law is one of a handful that have been passed since the Supreme Court voted to throw out the provision within the Voting Rights Act that required certain areas of the country with a history of racial discrimination to receive preclearance from the federal government prior to changing election laws.
Holder spoke out against the Supreme Court's decision in a speech given to the Congressional Black Caucus Gathering on Voting Rights earlier in Sept.
"Let me be clear: this was a deeply flawed decision that effectively invalidated a cornerstone of American civil rights law," Holder said. "And, although it has had a significant impact on the Justice Department's enforcement abilities - as President Obama and I have said, and as my colleagues and I are already proving - we will not allow the Court's action to be interpreted as 'open season' for states to pursue measures that suppress voting rights."
The aim of the suit is to require North Carolina to once again be required to receive preclearance prior to changing voter laws as well as to overturn the provisions that have been passed. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is currently suing the state of Texas in order to stop a similar voter ID law as well as a redistricting plan, according to the New York Times.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill into law last month and championed it as a law that the citizens of North Carolina had demanded, according to the New York Times.
"North Carolinians overwhelmingly support a common-sense law that requires voters to present photo identification in order to cast a ballot," McCrory said. "I am proud to sign this legislation into law. Common practices like boarding an airplane and purchasing Sudafed require photo ID, and we should expect nothing less for the protection of our right to vote."
It has been argued by Republicans who support that law that it is necessary to prevent the possibility of mass voter fraud. Democrats, along with civil rights groups, have argued that the law was created to make it more difficult for minorities, who tend to vote for Democrats, to cast their ballots, according to USA Today.
