ATLANTA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue on Friday signed into law controversial voter identification legislation that prompted most of Georgia's black lawmakers to lead a walkout at the state Capitol.

The bill narrows the accepted forms of voter identification that can be shown at the polls on election day, requiring that only photo ID cards can be used, including a driver's license, passport, state issued photo ID car and military identification card.

More Resources VIDEO: Lori Geary reports Child Support Bill Signed into Law Fate of Smoking Ban Uncertain

In the past, voters without a driver's license or state issued identification card could produce their Social Security card, birth certificate or utility bill at the polls.

Perdue called the measure "a common sense ballot safeguard," but advocates for the poor, elderly and minority said it would hurt voting among those populations.

"I'm not sure why this issue has taking on such emotion among certain sectors," Perdue said. "What we are trying to do was to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote has the opportunity to vote."

The changes will not take effect until the U.S. Department of Justice, which has 60 days to decide, signs off on the new law.

Georgia, which has a history of suppressing minority votes, must obtain federal permission before implementing changes in state voting requirements.

The Republican-backed measure was one of the legislative session's most controversial.

Democrats argued the idea was a political move by the GOP to depress voting among minorities, the elderly and the poor, all of which are traditional bases for Democrats.

Black Democrats in the Legislature stormed out of the House and Senate the night the bill was approved.

Rallies were held decrying the measure. Earlier this month, Coretta Scott King publicly called on Perdue to veto the bill.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Lori Geary contributed to this report.