New Schedule Tightens Window to Implement Voter ID

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By News Department

Story Created: Jul 3, 2012 at 11:45 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 3, 2012 at 11:45 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A revised timetable for the federal lawsuit over South Carolina's voter ID law would make it harder for the new requirements to impact the Nov. 6 general election.

On Tuesday, the judges who will consider the case rescheduled oral arguments for the end of August. That's a month later than originally planned. It's also several weeks after the deadline by which state officials have said they would need a decision in order to prepare to implement the law this year.

The state Election Commission has said it would ideally need about two months to implement the law. That would necessitate a ruling by early September_ just a week after oral arguments.

South Carolina sued Attorney General Eric Holder after the U.S. Justice Department blocked the law last year.