Statement on Common Cause v. Billups
Court Correct to Enjoin Georgias Restrictive Voter ID Law
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Contact Information:
Wendy Weiser, 212 998–6130
Natalia Kennedy, 212 998–6736
Brennan Center Statement on Common Cause v. Billups
Court Correct to Enjoin Georgias Restrictive Voter ID Law
New York, NY The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law praised todays decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia enjoining the enforcement of Georgias infamous law requiring photo ID as a condition of voting. The court found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their constitutional claims that the law constitutes a poll tax and infringes on the right to vote.
The national push towards restrictive voter ID legislation threatens to exclude millions of eligible voters, especially those who have traditionally faced barriers at the polls. The enormous barriers to the franchise created by such requirements are not justified by any serious or widespread problems with voter misconduct or fraud. Georgias photo ID requirement is both bad policy and unconstitutional, said Wendy Weiser, associate counsel at the Brennan Center, and we are very pleased with the courts decision.
The Brennan Center recently released an extensive report, in response to a report by the Carter-Baker Commission, demonstrating how seriously photo ID requirements burden voters and how little they do to prevent election misconduct. The Brennan Centers report also argues that restrictive voter ID provisions are inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws. A copy of the report is available here.