WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal judges are questioning whether South Carolina can wait until 2014 to put its new voter ID law into effect.
A three-judge panel raised the question Monday as an attorney for South Carolina delivered closing arguments in a trial over whether the state's new voter ID law is discriminatory.
The attorney urged the judges to allow the law to be implemented in time for the Nov. 6 election. He said voters who don't have the required photo ID would be allowed to cast provisional ballots.
South Carolina went to court after the Department of Justice blocked the law, saying it diminishes minorities' voting rights. South Carolina is required to get federal approval for the law because of its history of discrimination against minority voters.
A decision is expected next month.
