Alabama officials say voters apparently will have to present identification at the polls in the next election.
Officials including Gov. Robert Bentley, Secretary of State Beth Chapman and Attorney General Luther Strange said the Supreme Court's ruling Tuesday throwing out part of the federal Voting Rights Act means the state does not have to submit for preclearance a new law requiring voters to have photo identification.
Strange said the voter identification law will be implemented immediately.
But Democratic state Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery said he feels the voter identification law needed to be reviewed by the Justice Department. He fears it will be used to intimidate blacks and keep some elderly people from being able to vote.
Gov. Robert Bentley said he believes pre-clearance is no longer needed.