A controversial new Texas law requiring voters to present personal identification before going to the polls has been blocked by the Obama administration.
In a letter Monday to state officials, the Justice Department said the legislation could have a discriminatory effect on Hispanics and other minorities.
The department concluded there is little evidence of voter fraud in Texas warranting the legislative changes.
The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 gives the federal government the power to oversee any changes in voting procedures in states and jurisdictions with a history of voter discrimination.
"Even using the data most favorable to the state, Hispanics disproportionately lack either a driver's license or a personal identification card ... and that disparity is statistically significant," Perez said
Administration blocks Texas voter ID law - CNN.com