The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and Arkansas Public Law Center today filed a lawsuit challenging the voter ID law passed in 2013, according to a news release Friday.
“The complaint charges the law violates the Arkansas Constitution by impairing the right to vote and by adding to the voting qualifications already set out in the Constitution,” the news release states.
The ACLU said the law places additional restrictions on Arkansans by prohibiting them from exercising their right to vote unless they present government approved photo ID. Reportedly, 10% of Arkansas voters lack ID, according to the ACLU.
“People who have been qualified to vote their entire adult lives are now being blocked from doing so by this unnecessary and unconstitutional law,” said Rita Sklar, executive director if the ACLU of Arkansas.
“The Arkansas Constitution specifically outlines the qualifications needed to vote. The state should be ashamed of making it harder for eligible voters from exercising this most fundamental right than our own Constitution requires,” Sklar said.
