One lawsuit over photo ID for voters comes to a quiet end

One of two lawsuits involving Georgia’s voter photo ID law came to an end on Monday, as the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of Common Cause v. Georgia.

The high court usually doesn’t say why it doesn’t grant petitions for a writ of certiorari, but Gov. Sonny Perdue was happy to interpret.

Said Perdue:

The Supreme Court’s decision today is a victory for ensuring fair elections. It properly defers to Georgia’s policy makers, and it recognizes that the Voter ID Act we passed in 2006 does not impede the right to vote.

By rejecting the plaintiffs’ appeal, the highest court in the United States rejected a key argument still being argued in a state court lawsuit filed against Georgia’s elected officials by the Democratic Party of Georgia.

I am optimistic that the state courts will agree with the Supreme Court and protect the integrity of the voting process.”

Secretary of State Karen Handel, who has made voting laws a centerpiece of her Republican campaign to replace Perdue next year, expressed similar sentiments:

“Today’s denial of yet another challenge to our common sense photo ID law represents a long-fought victory for Georgia voters and the security of our elections,” Handel said in a press release. “After four years of litigation by special interest groups, plaintiffs are still unable to find one Georgia voter who was unable to cast a ballot due to our photo ID law.”

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