Fast-forward to 2013, when the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision invalidating Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Within hours, Texas officials announced that they would start implementing the ID requirements. Opponents then decided to challenge the law using some new tools — another section of the Voting Rights Act (Section 2), and the U.S. Constitution.
Which brings us to the current case in Corpus Christi. It pits the U.S. Department of Justice, the NAACP, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, numerous Texas voters and others against the state. The groups argue that the law discriminates against black and Latino voters, because they’re less likely to have the required photo ID, which includes things such as a valid driver’s license, passport or concealed handgun license.
They’ll also argue that these voters are more likely to be poor, which means additional burdens. Attorneys for the groups say they’ll cite the cost of documents needed to get the ID, such as a birth certificate, and the fact that many low-income voters have a hard time getting off work to travel long distances to state offices where the ID is available.
Full Article: Texas Voter ID Law Goes To Trial : It’s All Politics : NPR.