Federal court rejects Texas voter ID law as unfair to Hispanics, African-Americans

[Newsjock]

Last edited Thu Aug 30, 2012, 01:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Associated Press

A federal court has ruled against a Texas law that would require voters to present photo IDs to election officials before being allowed to cast ballots in November.

A three-judge panel in Washington ruled Thursday that the law imposes "strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor" and noted that racial minorities in Texas are more likely to live in poverty.


Read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9df1409a2b2740bd91f62251a590eac2/US--Texas-Voter-ID

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http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Federal-judges-reject-Texas-Voter-ID-law-3827727.php
Federal judges reject Texas Voter ID law

... "I thank the DC Federal Court for standing up for voting rights and against discrimination and disenfranchisement," state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said. "Throughout this entire process, Texas consistently failed to produce information showing the law would not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act exists for this exact purpose: protecting the ability of all Americans to access the ballot box."

(Texas Attorney General Greg) Abbott quickly issued a statement, saying his office would appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court of the United States has already upheld Voter ID laws as a constitutional method of ensuring integrity at the ballot box," Abbott said. "Today's decision is wrong on the law and improperly prevents Texas from implementing the same type of ballot integrity safeguards that are employed by Georgia and Indiana - and were upheld by the Supreme Court. The State will appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, where we are confident we will prevail."

[hr]
Court ruling here: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/texas_voter.pdf

[barbtries]

1. is this the end of it?

does it mean what it should mean, that everyone who is eligible will be allowed to vote in TX?

i hope so.

[Incitatus]

2. I doubt it

The Supreme Court wil be the final word

[barbtries]

8. will hopefully there's an injunction

so the election will go forward. man i swear the republicans just wear a body down with this shit.

[Melissa G]

3. AG Abbott will undoubtably waste more money

Last edited Sat Sep 1, 2012, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

and take it to SCOTUS.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Two victories in Texas in one week!

First the Republican drawn district maps were overturned, and now this.

This has been a fantastic week for voters rights in Texas.

[hamsterjill]

5. Honestly, right??!!

Man, I've been feeling like I live in a blue state almost!!!! LOL

But then I look around and see all of the grumpy faces, and remember that I live amongst a bunch of Republicans!

[midnight]

6. This is good to hear.... Keep it up Texas....

[elleng]

7. More like, keep it up Federal Courts!

[Ian_rd]

9. But You Honor, discrimination is the whole purpose of the law!