State Sen. Rodríguez’s statement on Fifth Circuit Appellate Court striking down burdensome Voter ID law

Austin – The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today issued a ruling in Veasey v. Abbott that found that the Texas photo ID requirements to vote in Texas are discriminatory and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. State Sen. José Rodríguez issued the following statement on the ruling: 

I support the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the Texas photo ID requirements to vote are in violation of the Voting Rights Act. This is now the third court to find this law, passed in 2011, discriminatory and in violation of the Voting Rights Act. The appellate court agreed with the lower court’s finding of  a stark racial disparity between those who possess or have access to ID, and those who do not. Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott should not continue to spend taxpayer money to defend a law that has continually been found to hurt minority voting rights.  It’s incumbent on them to work with the plaintiffs in this case, including the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, on a remedy that will not disenfranchise eligible voters. The Court even provided some suggestions such as allowing the voter registration card as an acceptable form of ID.  I urge the Attorney General and Governor to fulfill their legal duties and stop the implementation of this discriminatory law immediately. 

Today’s decision is not the end of this struggle. The right to vote must be constantly defended.  I look forward to future elections where more Texans, regardless of race, age, poverty level or education level, are able to participate more freely in the vote.

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José Rodríguez represents Texas Senate District 29, which includes the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio. He represents both urban and rural constituencies, and more than 350 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. Senator Rodríguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Hispanic Caucus, and is a member of the Senate Committees on Education; Health and Human Services; Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; Nominations; and Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs.

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