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Breaking: Voter ID Law Struck Down In Texas!!
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal court on Thursday rejected the tough Republican-backed voter identification requirement for Texas.
The ruling strikes down one of the centerpiece measures passed in 2011 by the GOP majority in both houses and the Legislature and enthusiastically signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, also a Republican, defended the measure as constitutional.
A three-judge panel in Washington ruled Thursday that the law imposes "strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor" and noted that racial minorities in are more likely to live in poverty.
The trial held last month featured witnesses from the law's opponents who testified that the requirement that voters president a state-approved photo identification before casting a ballot was an undue hardship for people who don't drive or travel abroad.
The ruling strikes down one of the centerpiece measures passed in 2011 by the GOP majority in both houses and the Legislature and enthusiastically signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, also a Republican, defended the measure as constitutional.
A three-judge panel in Washington ruled Thursday that the law imposes "strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor" and noted that racial minorities in are more likely to live in poverty.
The trial held last month featured witnesses from the law's opponents who testified that the requirement that voters president a state-approved photo identification before casting a ballot was an undue hardship for people who don't drive or travel abroad.
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/politics/federal-court-rejects-voter-id-law
Texas' voter ID law struck down in federal court
This is the third court ruling in the past three days out of the federal courts striking down Republican voter laws. A federal panel on Wednesday blocked a Florida registration measure from continuing in effect. South Carolina's strict photo ID law is on trial in front of another three-judge panel in the same federal courthouse. A court ruling in the South Carolina case is expected in time for the November election.
An appeal is likely in the Texas case, but there is no guarantee that the U.S. Supreme Court is going to want to get involved in this case, or any of these voting rights case, before the election. On the other hand, the justices in 2008 said that states could impose some voter identification restrictions.
Federal court finds discrimination in new Texas voting maps
Earlier in the week, Texas' voting districts were thrown again into upheaval after a federal court found evidence of discrimination in new district maps drawn and approved by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature last year.
An appeal is likely in the Texas case, but there is no guarantee that the U.S. Supreme Court is going to want to get involved in this case, or any of these voting rights case, before the election. On the other hand, the justices in 2008 said that states could impose some voter identification restrictions.
Federal court finds discrimination in new Texas voting maps
Earlier in the week, Texas' voting districts were thrown again into upheaval after a federal court found evidence of discrimination in new district maps drawn and approved by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature last year.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57503516/texas-voter-id-law-struck-down-in-federal-court/
22 replies
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These Federal Court voter I.D. rulings - Florida and now, Texas - have been a breath of fresh air!
rocktivity
The federal court struck down the Republican drawn districts maps, and the voter ID law both as being unfair to minorities!
The Republicans better be worried, the minorities may just have to vote them out of office in retaliation for trying to suppress their votes.
