In a decision which could potentially lead to increased attacks on Black voting rights, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that states can require voters to produce photo identification in order to cast their ballots.
Civil and voting rights groups have long argued that state requirements for photo ID were part of a Republican Party campaign to make it more difficult for Blacks and other minorities to vote.
However, in a 6-to-3 decision, with the high court's liberals in opposition, the Supreme Court upheld a strict photo ID requirement in Indiana. At least six other states have similar strict requirements.
Last Monday's ruling could prompt other states to enact similar laws. The legal director of the Indiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union Ken Falk said he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision because voter ID laws "inhibit voting."
Strict voter ID laws are generally pushed by the Republican Party and other conservative groups in the name of combating voter fraud. However, critics charge that there is extremely little voter fraud during U.S. elections and that the laws are actually designed to make it more difficult for people who do not normally vote Republican to cast their ballots.
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