HOUSTON — Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed its plan to abandon the claim that the Texas photo voter ID law was enacted with the intent to discriminate. Were the courts to rule that there was discriminatory intent, the State of Texas could be required to submit future changes to voting laws for review by the Justice Department before enforcing them.
“Every court that has heard this case has determined that the Texas photo voter ID law disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of legally qualified voters,” said Rebecca L. Robertson, legal and policy director for the ACLU of Texas. “The Attorney General’s decision to withdraw its opposition to a law that keeps low-income Texans and people of color out of the voting booth is hugely disappointing. The Justice Department should be doing everything in its power to encourage participation in the democratic process, not giving tacit support to the State’s effort to suppress it.”
