FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2018
AG Paxton Applauds 5th Circuit Decision
Upholding TexasÕ Voter ID Law
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov
PRESS OFFICE: (512) 463-2050
Kayleigh Lovvorn: Kayleigh.Lovvorn@oag.texas.gov
AUSTIN Ð Attorney General Ken Paxton
today applauded a 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the 5th Circuit that upholds TexasÕ common-sense voter ID law.
ÒThe court rightly recognized that
when the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 last session, it complied with every
change the 5th Circuit ordered to the original voter ID law,Ó
Attorney General Paxton said.
ÒSafeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy.
The revised voter ID law removes any burden on voters who cannot obtain a photo
ID.Ó
Senate Bill 5 allows registered
voters without one of the seven state-approved forms of photo identification to
cast an in-person ballot by signing a sworn declaration of reasonable
impediment stating why they couldnÕt obtain photo ID.
In September, a three-judge panel of
the 5th Circuit stayed a lower court decision that blocked Texas from enforcing
voter ID, ruling that the state could use its revised law for future elections.
In a majority opinion, it concluded at the time that Texas made a strong
showing that it would likely prevail in the case. Attorney General Paxton
defended the constitutionality of the law at a hearing before the 5th Circuit
on December 5 in New Orleans. Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice said
it was satisfied Senate Bill 5 Òeradicates any discriminatory effect or intentÓ
and expands voter identification options.
A colorful PDF format for further
distribution is here:
http://www.dasharpe.com/Politics/VotingJudicial/2018-04-27PhotoIDUpheald.pdf
View the 5th Circuit voter ID ruling
here: