Posted on · Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Texasâ voter ID law, ruling the 2011 measure violates the Voting Rights Act. The decision sends the case back to a lower court, which will decide whether lawmakers intended to discriminate when they approved the measure. The ruling came down just a day shy of […]
Posted on · Last week, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Veasey v. Perry, a challenge to the Texas voter ID law. In a federal district court ruling, Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ruled there was "compelling evidence" that Senate Bill 14, enacted in 2013, was passed with the intent to discriminate against minority […]
Posted on · You may not be aware of it, but the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Uniform Election is April 9th. These races are held twice a year and tend to focus on more local issues.
Posted on · A Houston voter tells us why she likes to vote early.
Posted on · Early voting began on Monday in Harris County with the stateâs voter ID law recently reinstated by a federal appeals court. The ruling handed down by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals allows the law to be used in the Nov. 4 election, despite a lower judgeâs ruling that the law is unconstitutional. The Texas […]
Posted on · This is Hispanic Heritage Month. As such, some national and local civic organizations are engaged in a city-wide campaign to increase voter registration among Latino voters in Houston. While Texas is home to the country's second-largest Latino population, and Hispanics represent the largest ethnic population in Greater Houston, studies suggest they don't vote as much […]
Posted on · The annexation of North Forest students and residents prompted the redistricting plan.
Posted on · Early voting begins this week for a March primary election which will determine the major party candidates for a number of statewide offices. While itâs clear who both Republicans and Democrats will put forward for Governor, the Lieutenant Governorâs race appears up for grabs. We learn about that and other offices for which the primary […]
Posted on · A report by the Texas Civil Rights Project describes what the organization considers defective and inadequate voter registration procedures at both state and local levels. According to the report, these practices effectively disenfranchise thousands of Texans. There are seven bodies charged with registering people to vote, but the Secretary of State’s office doesn’t have enforcement […]
Posted on · The Justice Department says it's suing Texas to block the state's new voter ID law and will also try to stop the state's attempt to draw new voting maps.
Posted on · The Justice Department is taking aim at Texas. Attorney General Eric Holder says Texas is one of several states that should be held to tougher standards under the Voting Rights Act.
Posted on · Early voting can draw as much as half the turnout in some elections in the Houston area. The state House Election Committee considered a bill that would shorten early voting from 12 to 7. After receiving strong opposition from committee Democrats, the bill did not make it to a committee vote.
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments this week on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act. Justices appeared to be split on whether to uphold a key provision of the landmark civil rights law.
Posted on · Public testimony gets underway today in the Texas Senate on a proposed law requiring voters to show a photo ID when they go to the polls. Republicans say voter ID laws are needed to prevent fraud. Democrats contend it's a partisan move designed to increase GOP margins on Election Day. As David Pitman reports, voter impersonation does not appear to be a widespread problem in Texas.
Posted on · Investigators are still trying to find out what caused an early morning fire that destroyed the Harris County Election Technology Center. That building contained all ten-thousand of the county's voting machines. That leaves election officials scrambling for answers with just a few months till the November election. Bill Stamps has more.