Appeals Court Reinstates Texas Voter Photo ID Law
Published at
Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Texas’ strict voter ID laws Tuesday, meaning that hundreds of thousands of registered voters might be ineligible for the Nov. 4 midterm election.
Last week, a federal judge ruled that the law requiring people to present photo IDS to get regular ballots was unconstitutional by discriminating against minorities who might not be able to easily attain this form of identification.
However, the 5th Circuit Court, considered one of the most conservative in the nation, overturned the injunction, explaining that it was important to maintain “the status quo on the eve of an election.”
As a result, voters who can’t produce a valid driver’s license will need to obtain a photo ID from the Department of Motor Vehicles within the next two weeks. Meanwhile, early voting in Texas begins next Monday.
Photo IDS are typically supported by GOP lawmakers who argue they prevent fraud, multiple voting and voting by non-citizens. However, there has been little evidence over the years of widespread voter fraud anywhere in the U.S.
Opponents, generally Democrats, say it’s a thinly veiled attempt to suppress voting by minorities and the young, who mostly vote for Democratic candidates.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio