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Houston Matters

Revisiting Debate Over Texas Voter ID Law

Judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments last week (May 24, 2016) over a challenge to the state’s voter ID law. Plaintiffs allege the requirement violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by making it more difficult — specifically for African Americans and Latinos — to cast […]

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Online Voter Registration BannerJudges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments last week (May 24, 2016) over a challenge to the state's voter ID law.

Plaintiffs allege the requirement violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by making it more difficult — specifically for African Americans and Latinos — to cast a ballot. The ID requirement was initially blocked in 2011 based on Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act but then was implemented in 2013 after the Supreme Court struck down that section of the act.

We walk through the history of this legal battle to date and discuss what the Fifth Circuit is likely to rule with the help of Charles “Rocky” Rhodes, professor of law at South Texas College of Law.

Michael Hagerty

Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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