Federal court rejects Texas voter ID law

[TexasTowelie]

A three-judge federal panel today rejected the Texas voter ID law, saying it would improperly suppress the voting rights of minorities.

Under the Voting Rights Act, Texas had the obligation to prove that the law — which requires voters to present photo identification at the polling place — did not deny or limit minority access to vote.

“We find that Texas has failed to make this showing — in fact, record evidence demonstrates that, if implemented, (the law) will likely have a retrogressive effect,” the court ruled.

Texas, as a jurisdiction with a history of discrimination against minority voters, must receive “pre-clearance” from either the Department of Justice or federal court for any law affecting elections.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2012/08/30/federal_court_rejects_texas_vo.html

[Downwinder]

1. I'll mail my paper ballot anyway.