Obama defends suit challenging Texas voter ID law

[August 29, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is defending the Justice Department's lawsuit over Texas' voter ID law and says his administration will use tools available through the Voting Rights Act to keep jurisdictions from enacting laws that have the effect of preventing people from voting.

In an interview with PBS broadcast Wednesday, Obama said that while some voting restrictions may contain a racial element, the reasons for the constraints are more likely partisan.

The Supreme Court has said the Voting Rights Act needs revisions, meaning certain jurisdictions no longer need to have new voting laws reviewed ahead of time to gauge their effect on minority voters.

Obama said he's working with lawmakers to amend the act. But he said his administration also will try other approaches to make up for the court's decision.

[Associated Press]

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