Georgia civil rights, religious groups ask DOJ to oppose voter ID law News
Georgia civil rights, religious groups ask DOJ to oppose voter ID law

[JURIST] Civil rights, religious and community groups have asked the US Department of Justice [official website] to block a law that would require voters in Georgia to show photo identification before they could cast their ballots. The bill [PDF text; bill summary] was passed by the Georgia state legislature [official website] and approved by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue [official website] in January, but under the federal Voting Rights Act [DOJ backgrounder], states with a past history of discrimination must have federal approval before making changes to their election laws. Perdue and other Republicans contend that the bill will lessen voter fraud, but Democrats argue that it will prevent blacks and members of the poor and elderly communities from voting since they are less likely to carry drivers licenses.

A previous version of the law was blocked by a federal judge [JURIST report] last year, and the revised bill offers to issue free photo IDs to voters who need them. If approved, Georgia would be the seventh state to have such a photo identification law for voters. However, even if the Justice Department allows the bill to move forward, it could be blocked by a federal judge again. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.