AR Upholds Voter ID Law Nearly Identical To Restriction Struck Down In 2014
Source: Talking Points Memo
By ANDREW DeMILLO
October 11, 2018 1:50 pm
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ highest court on Thursday upheld a voter ID law that is nearly identical to a restriction struck down by the court four years ago.
The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a judge’s ruling against the law approved last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and governor. A judge had blocked officials from enforcing the restriction, but justices in May stayed that ruling and kept the law in effect while they considered the case.
The high court in 2014 struck down a previous version of the voter ID law as unconstitutional.
The revised voter ID law, which was approved last year, requires voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. Unlike the previous measure, the new law allows voters to cast provisional ballots if they sign a sworn statement confirming their identities. Opponents of the new measure had argued that it circumvented the 2014 ruling.
In the 5-2 ruling Thursday, justices said lawmakers had the power to enact the restriction by labeling it a change to a constitutional amendment related to voter registration requirements. “It is therefore constitutional,” LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ highest court on Thursday upheld a voter ID law that is nearly identical to a restriction struck down by the court four years ago.
The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a judge’s ruling against the law approved last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and governor. A judge had blocked officials from enforcing the restriction, but justices in May stayed that ruling and kept the law in effect while they considered the case.
The high court in 2014 struck down a previous version of the voter ID law as unconstitutional.
The revised voter ID law, which was approved last year, requires voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. Unlike the previous measure, the new law allows voters to cast provisional ballots if they sign a sworn statement confirming their identities. Opponents of the new measure had argued that it circumvented the 2014 ruling.
In the 5-2 ruling Thursday, justices said lawmakers had the power to enact the restriction by labeling it a change to a constitutional amendment related to voter registration requirements. “It is therefore constitutional,” Justice Robin Wynne wrote in the court’s ruling. wrote in the court’s ruling.
Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/arkansas-supreme-court-upholds-revised-voter-id-law
Robin Wynne......................
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/courts/reports/2014/08/11/95426/koch-brothers-and-d-c-conservatives-spending-big-on-nonpartisan-state-supreme-court-races/
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