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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department has turned down South Carolina's voter identification law for a second time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Perez rejected the law last week in a letter to an attorney representing the state.

The federal government blocked South Carolina's photo ID requirement in December, saying it could keep tens of thousands of the state's minorities from casting ballots.

Justice Department officials also said the law failed to meet requirements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which requires approval from that agency for changes to South Carolina's election laws because of the state's past failure to protect blacks' voting rights.

South Carolina has sued U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder over the law. Arguments in that case are scheduled later this month.

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