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Attorney General Holder Calls Voter ID Laws 'Poll Taxes'

KUT News, U.S. Department of Justice
Holder believes the state's Voter ID bill would disenfranchise minority voters.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke today to members of the NAACP at a conference in Houston.

He talked about his appreciation of the organization and his concerns about the opportunities for young people in some urban areas.

Holder also talked about the Texas Voter ID bill and why he believes it would be harmful to minority voters.

“Under the proposed law, concealed handgun licenses would be acceptable forms of photo ID but student IDs would not," Holder says. "Many of those without IDs would have to travel great distances to get them and some would struggle to pay for the documents they might need to obtain them. We call those poll taxes."

A three-judge panelis hearing testimony on the Voter ID bill.

They will decide whether the bill violates the federal Voting Rights Act.

Laura first joined the KUT team in April 2012. She now works for the statewide program Texas Standard as a reporter and producer. Laura came to KUT from the world of television news. She has worn many different hats as an anchor, reporter and producer at TV stations in Austin, Amarillo and Toledo, OH. Laura is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, a triathlete and enjoys travel, film and a good beer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and pets.
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