Lawyers for Texas return to court Tuesday to try to save the state’s voter ID law, and there is more at stake beyond requiring photo identification at the polls. Republicans in the Legislature stand accused of blatant racism in enacting the 2011 law, and there is more at stake beyond requiring photo identification at the polls. Republicans in the Legislature stand accused of blatant racism in enacting the 2011 law, and unless that finding by a federal judge is reversed, Texas could be forced to get federal approval for changes to its election laws based on its history of voter discrimination. The next step in the long-fought case takes place Tuesday morning with oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
That court has already determined that the voter ID law discriminated against African-American and Hispanic voters. Now the federal appeals court will determine whether that discrimination was intentional — part of a Republican plan to help GOP candidates by disenfranchising minority voters, who tend to favor Democrats.
Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will argue that the law known as Senate Bill 14 was not discriminatory and if it did adversely affect minority voters, that result was not intentional.
More to the point, state lawyers will contend that changes the Legislature adopted earlier this year corrected any alleged problems with the 2011 voter ID law, requiring that the legal challenge be dismissed and the new law be enforced without court interference.
Full Article: Texas voter ID: appeals court to weigh ‘discriminatory’ law.