Appeals court stays injunction against Texas voter ID law

AUSTIN, Texas A federal appeals court panel on Tuesday stayed a permanent injunction to throw out the Texas law requiring voters to present an accepted photo identification card.

By a 2-1 vote, the threejudge panel in New Orleans left in the injunction’s place a previous order by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. That order allows those without an accepted ID to vote by signing a sworn declaration stating they have a reasonable impediment to obtaining one.

Gonzales Ramos had issued the permanent injunction against a subsequent voter ID law on Aug. 23, calling it a “poll tax” on minority voters. The stay suspends that order until the appeals court can hear the merits for and against the state’s appeal.

The U.S. Justice Department participated in the fight to dispose of the law until President Donald Trump took office this year, when it reversed position and supported the Texas voter ID law.

In the six-page majority opinion, Circuit Judges Jerry Smith and Jennifer Walker Elrod suggested the state’s showing was strong enough that they appeared likely to succeed on the merits of its appeal.

“A temporary stay here, while the court can consider arguments on the merits, will minimize confusion among both voters and trained election officials,” the majority opinion stated.