Know Your Rights at the Polls

Early voting in the Texas primaries began May 14th, and we’ve been hearing from people around the state about the unprecedented level of confusion among voters, media, and even election officials over the Photo Voter ID law that was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2011. Let’s set the record straight! The Photo Voter ID law is NOT in effect, and you can vote in the primary as you always have. Learn more about your voting rights at the polls. The Justice Department (DOJ) found that Texas’s Photo Voter ID law discriminates against minority voters, many of whom lack the kinds of ID the law requires. DOJ blocked the law, and although the State of Texas has sued DOJ and challenged the Voting Rights Act, that case is still pending. Of course, Texas law has always required that voters show some form of ID, and that is still the case for this election. But it doesn’t have to be a photo ID. Your voter registration certificate, for example, is perfectly acceptable! Know your rights when you go to the polls.