Appeals court rules Texas’ voter ID law is discriminatory
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas’ voter ID law — considered by critics to be the toughest in the nation — violates the Voting Rights Act. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans agreed that the lower court was right when it found that the law “has a discriminatory effect on minorities’ voting rights.” The ruling does not strike down the law, but instead suggests a relief for voters until fixes are made. The challenge marked one of several voting rights cases making rounds in the courts just months ahead of Election Day. Texas passed the law in 2011, but it did not go into effect until 2013 after the Supreme Court invalidated a key section of the Voting Right Act. Challengers called it the strictest because it only allowed a limited set of eligible IDs.