(CNN) – In the midst of a heated national debate over voter identification laws nationwide, the Justice Department approved Monday of Virginia's new voter identification law.Virginia's new law requires voters to present a valid form of identification at the polls. Otherwise, voters can cast a provisional ballot and later present an ID within a few days following Election Day for their vote to count.
The law also expands the types of identification acceptable to vote, some of which do not require a photo of the voter.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Virginia's law had to be precleared by the Justice Department before taking effect.