U.S. Justice Department Accuses Texas Of Misleading Public On Allowable Forms Of Voter ID

AUSTIN, TX — The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Texas of distributing inaccurate and misleading information to poll workers and voters about acceptable forms of identification needed to vote — in violation of an earlier order that struck down previous stringent requirements as unconstitutional.

In a legal filing on Tuesday, the Department of Justice determined that the state wasn't doing enough to educate voters on more relaxed voting standards with which it was ordered to comply. The state was ordered last month to spend $2.5 million to advise the public that all voters without one of seven types of photo ID required by a 2011 Texas law can still cast their ballots come November.

"Limited funds are being spent on inaccurate materials," the DOJ wrote in the filing. In the filing, the DOJ asked U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to "...issue corrections to past press releases and other public statements" by Texas officials, the Texas Tribune reported.

Additionally, Texas officials must "...update and redistribute all electronic resources to reflect that all voters" lacking one of the previously required forms of ID can still vote and won't be turned away, the DOJ wrote.

The state's photo ID law championed by conservative lawmakers and ultimately passed in 2011, known as Senate Bill 14, was seen as draconian at best and, at worst, part of an orchestrated effort designed to weed out certain voter segments — chiefly low-income or minority voters.

The Department of Justice concurred, striking down the state's requirements in July after determining they violated the Voting Rights Act.

The crux of the feds' argument rests largely on a single word. In its filing, the DOJ contends Texas has manipulated the wording required by the previous order by limiting voting to people with photo IDs or those who "have not obtained" or "cannot obtain" such identification, the Tribune explained.

Therein lies the rub. In its filing, the DOJ notes Texas has stripped out the word "reasonably" in its communications to voters related to the new voting guidelines.

“That standard is incorrect and far harsher than the Court-ordered standard it would displace,” the DOJ filing noted. “By recasting the Court’s language, Texas has narrowed dramatically the scope of voters protected by the Court’s Order.”

Under the previous order, constituents without ID who still hope to vote in the November elections are able to sign an affidavit certifying they are U.S. citizens while providing proof of residence — a bank statement, paycheck stub, utility bill or other previously disallowed materials. Moreover, Texas was ordered to provide those affidavits not only in English but also in Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

In short, Tuesday's filing alerted Texas that it's out of compliance with relaxed standards that are in accordance with long-established voter protections.

In response to the DOJ's renewed demands, the Texas Attorney General's office didn't indicate it would immediately comply. Instead, the state attorney general will review the federal government's motion and respond later this week.

Marc Rylander, a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, told the Tribune his office is "...currently reviewing the DOJ's motion and will file a response by Friday."

Read the full story at Texas Tribune >>

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