Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant Thursday signed a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the
polls, but it's unclear whether it will become law.

Because of Mississippi's history of racial discrimination, the state is required to get federal approval for any change in election laws or procedures.

The U.S. Justice Department has rejected voter ID laws from Texas and South Carolina in recent months.

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he wants to bypass the Justice Department and ask federal judges in Washington to approve this state's law.

However, Attorney General Jim Hood, the only Democrat in statewide office says it's his duty, not Hosemann's, to submit election laws for federal scrutiny.

Hood says he is taking the voter ID measure to the Justice Department.