SDC statement on Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Finding Texas Voter ID Law Discriminatory

Austin – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the “district court did not clearly err in determining that SB 14 has a discriminatory effect on minorities’ voting rights in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.” This is now the fourth federal court to find the Texas “Voter ID” law discriminates against minority voters in Texas.

 

Sen. José Rodríguez released the following statement, on behalf of the members of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, regarding today’s ruling:

 

The evidence has once again proven that the Voter ID law enacted by the TexasLegislature in 2011, one of the most restrictive in the nation, discriminates against minority voters in Texas. Senate Democrats unanimously voted against it because it was clear the motivation for the law had little to do with preventing voter fraud and more to do with restricting eligible minority voters’ access to the polls. We look forward to the Court’s remedy to ensure all eligible citizens have their voting rights protected in the upcoming November election.    

 

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The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus is comprised of the following members: Sen. José Rodríguez of El Paso (Chair), Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston (Vice Chair), Sen. John Whitmire of Houston, Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. of Brownsville, Sen. Royce West of Dallas, Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa of Mission, Sen. Carlos Uresti of San Antonio, Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, Sen. Sylvia Garcia of Houston, and Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio.

 

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