On July 17, U.S. District Court Judge W. Allen Pepper denied the Mississippi Democratic Party request for reconsideration on whether voter ID must be shown at the polls in future Democratic primaries. In June 2007 that judge had ruled in favor of the Mississippi Democratic Party on the issue of whether the party could exclude non-members from voting in its primary. However, the June ruling had surprised the Democratic Party by adding that when Democrats hold a closed primary in the future, they must require voter ID at the polls. The Democratic Party had asked for reconsideration on voter ID. But the judge has now denied reconsideration.

Judge Pepper said, “Some form of voter ID must be required in Mississippi’s future primary system, the form of which must be just as accurate as that required for other daily functions of American life, if not more so given the solemnity of exercising the constitutional right to vote.”

It is likely that the state of Mississippi will appeal Judge Pepper’s ruling requiring a closed primary for the Democratic Party, and it is also likely that the Mississippi Democratic Party will appeal that part of his ruling that says the party must require voter ID at the polls at its primary. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news.