Federal judge blocks revised voter ID law in Texas, cites perjury prosecution threat
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A federal judge in Texas has blocked a revised voter ID law in Texas after finding its provisions “fall far short of mitigating” parts of the original law that discriminated against African-Americans and Hispanics.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi issued a permanent injunction blocking the old and revised laws on Wednesday, report the New York Times, NPR, Politico, the Associated Press and the Texas Tribune. Ramos said the law violates the Voting Rights Act and the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Constitution.
The original law, Senate Bill 14, had required would-be voters to present one of seven forms of photo identification. The revised law, Senate Bill 5, allowed people without the required ID to sign an affidavit and show an alternate ID with their address, such as a utility bill or bank statement. The law did not, however, allow state or federal employee ID cards as an alternate. Those who lied on the affidavit could be prosecuted for perjury.
Ramos said the revised law was discriminatory because those who lacked the photo ID required under the original law were subject to different obstacles and procedures, and that imposed disproportionate burdens on blacks and Latinos. Ramos also said the threat of prosecution appeared to be an effort at voter intimidation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that Ramos’ decision is “outrageous” and the Justice Department was satisfied with the amended law. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should reverse Ramos’ decision, he said.
The Obama administration had opposed the revised law.
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