Federal Judge Rules Texas’ Voter ID Law Was Intended to Discriminate

A federal court in Texas has again ruled the state’s 2011 voter identification law intentionally discriminated against minorities. 

Judge Nelva Ramos Gonzales ruled that the law “was passed, at least in part, with a discriminatory intent in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

Texas claimed the law was necessary to combat in-person voter fraud, however Judge Ramos reminded the State what ought to be well known by now - there is no evidence of such fraud.

Ramos has scheduled a hearing for June to decide on a remedy for the law, which could include putting Texas back under federal voting rights oversight.

Civil rights groups have long argued that the law was meant to disenfranchise minority voters, who often lack the ID required.  The Department of Justice under President Obama originally brought the lawsuit against the bill in 2013.  However, the DOJ under the current administration sought to abandon the crux of the case - that the discrimination was purposeful.  

The DOJ declined comment on the decision. Texas is likely to appeal the ruling.

Last August, Ramos signed off on a compromise to temporarily fix the law ahead of the November election. Voters could sign an affidavit explaining why they didn’t have ID, and then show an alternate form of non-photo ID to cast their ballots. Legislation that essentially locks that compromise in place is now being considered.

Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-administration-lost-again-in-court-this-time-on-voter-id

Photo credit: Sun-Sentinel