Appeals Court Allows Texas' Revamped Voter ID Law to Go Into Effect

AUSTIN -- The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Texas' revamped voter identification law can go into effect. In its 2-1 decision, the appeals court reversed a lower court's ruling which had blocked the controversial voter identification law after the Legislature had made changes to it in 2017.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the court's decision. "The court rightly recognized that when the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 last session, it complied with every change the 5th Circuit ordered to the original voter ID law," he said in a news release. "Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy. The revised voter ID law removes any burden on voters who cannot obtain a photo ID."Opponents of the law vowed to continue fighting it. "Our view today is the same as it has been since the first day of this litigation - Texas' voter ID law is discriminatory," said Dallas Rep. Rafael Anchia, the chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. "We are undeterred by today's decision, and we will continue to fight against laws that aim to suppress the vote."Lupe Valdez, the former Dallas County Sheriff who is seeking the Democratic party's bid for governor, denounced the ruling in a tweet: "Disappointing stepback to see Texas' discriminatory voter ID law upheld. We should be making it easier for eligible Texans to vote, not harder. Let's defend and expand voting rights - not attack them."  Continue reading...