Justice Department Says Georgia Citizen Voter Check Illegal

The U.S. Justice Department says Georgia can no longer screen it's data base to see if newly registered voters are indeed citizens.

The department sent a letter to state officials charging that the system used by the Secretary of State's office discriminates against minorities. Hispanics and African Americans, the letter says, are more likely than whites applicants to be flagged for additional scrutiny.

Secretary of State Karen Handel, who is running for the republican nomination for Governor, condemned the decision. She says she will find a way to make sure all registered voter in Georgia are citizens. Not doing so, she says would open the floodgate for non -citizens to vote