WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says voter ID laws can be a barrier to voting, and the government needs a revitalized Voting Rights Act to police ballot box discrimination.
Obama tells CBS’ “Sunday Morning” that the Justice Department must have the right tools to go after a place that’s discriminating against certain voters and fix the problem.
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The president also is troubled by photo ID requirements. He says that in some places, getting a photo ID can cost up to $150 — and that can be a burden for someone who’s on a fixed income and not driving anymore and doesn’t have a license.
A Supreme Court ruling in 2013 eliminated the Justice Department’s ability under the Voting Rights Act to identify and stop potentially discriminatory voting laws before they took effect.