The Obama adninistration and the State of Texas are at odds again over the state’s Voter ID law.
The Department of Justice, DOJ, today accused Texas officials of misleading voters and poll workers regarding what kind of ID is required to cast a ballot.
The Texas Voter ID law was struck down by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last month which ruled it was in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
In a court filing, the DOJ says the state’s educational materials regarding the newly expanded Voter ID requirements are misleading and restrictive.
State officials say the language in the materials complies with the federal court order.
Below is an excerpt from the court filing, which can be read in its entirety below:
“Rather than educating voters and poll officials about opportunities to cast a regular ballot for those who "do not possess SB 14 ID and cannot reasonably obtain it,"the State has recast that language to limit the opportunity to cast a regular ballot solely to those voters who present SB 14 ID or who "have not obtained" and "cannot obtain" SB 14 ID.
That standard is incorrect and far harsher than the Court-ordered standard it would displace. By recasting the Court's language, Texas has narrowed dramatically the scope of voters protected by the Court's Order. Moreover, the standard the State's training and educational materials currently describe has already been rejected by this Court and the Fifth Circuit.
At this critical stage, such materials should maximize accuracy and minimize confusion. Texas's materials do neither.”
Texas officials have been visiting communities across the state in an effort to educate voters about the new requirements.
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