Video: Justice Department strikes down Texas Voter ID law

Many states already require photo ID to vote, but some of the strictest laws are now on hold. NBC?s Pete Williams reports.

>> by the way, on election-year politics, not one, but two state voter identification laws were overturned today. this is a charged topic right now. nbc's pete williams is with us with more on this from washington. pete, good evening.

>> reporter: a charged topic and requiring a government-issued photo id is an idea that nearly every state is considering. many have already done it. but now some of the strictest laws are on hold. the justice department today refused to give legal clearance to a voter id law many texas, saying it would hit hispanic voters especially hard since fewer of them have the required ids. the state said anybody could get a voter id at a driver's license office. but 81 texas counties don't have one. and in wisconsin, a judge said the id law there imposes a voting requirement that goes beyond the qualifications spelled out in the state constitution . it's the second time the court has blocked the law. the state says it will appeal. that brings to three the number of states where voter id laws are on hold -- south carolina and now texas and wisconsin. brian?

>> pete williams , thanks. i know you'll have more on this tomorrow.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46711651/

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