Study: ID laws could trip up young minority voters

WASHINGTON - A new study finds that nearly 700,000 minority voters under age 30 may be unable to cast a ballot in November because of photo ID laws in certain states. That lower turnout could affect several House races as well as the tight presidential contest.

Researchers at the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis used calculations based on turnout figures for the past two presidential elections. They concluded that overall turnout this year by young people of color ages 18-29 could fall by somewhere between 538,000 to 696,000 voters in states with photo ID laws.

Political scientists Cathy Cohen and Jon Rogowski say that even if young voters can pull together the necessary documentation, the extra steps they must take to get an acceptable ID might prove discouraging.