- The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a Texas law requiring voters to include matching ID numbers on both mail-in ballot applications and the completed ballots.
- The rule is part of Senate Bill 1, passed in 2021, which applies to eligible mail-in voters such as seniors and individuals with disabilities.
- Civil rights groups argue the matching requirement disproportionately affects vulnerable voters and leads to ballot rejections, without significantly preventing fraud.
- The panel ruled the requirement complies with the Civil Rights Act and supports Texas’s interest in preventing election fraud, giving states discretion in securing voter integrity.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and President Donald Trump praised the ruling, while the ACLU of Texas expressed disappointment and is considering an appeal.
A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas law requiring voters using mail-in ballots to include either a state-issued ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
In a unanimous ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 4, a three-judge panel reversed a lower court ruling that previously blocked the provision, which is part of Senate Bill 1 – Texas’ sweeping 2021 election law overhaul. (Related: North Carolina Supreme Court rules state voter ID law is constitutional and should be enforced.)
Under SB 1, Texans eligible to vote by mail, a group that includes voters over 65, people with certain disabilities and others meeting specific criteria, must include a state-issued identification number, such as a driver’s license or the last four digits of their Social Security number, on both their application for a mail-in ballot and the completed ballot itself. The two numbers must match voter registration records for the vote to count.
Opponents of the law, including several civil rights groups, argued that this matching requirement disproportionately impacts voters with disabilities and others who may not remember which number is on file with the state, leading to ballot rejections. They also contended that the provision does little to deter voter fraud.
But the appellate panel rejected those concerns, concluding that the requirement does not violate the “materiality provision” of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – a federal standard barring the rejection of ballots based on immaterial errors.
“We have no difficulty concluding that this ID number requirement fully complies,” wrote Judge James Ho in the court’s opinion. He was joined by Judges Patrick Higginbotham and Don Willett, forming a panel appointed by Republican presidents.
Moreover, the court sided with Texas justification, despite plaintiffs arguing that there was insufficient evidence to show the ID number requirement would effectively prevent fraud.
“Our precedents compel us to side with Texas,” Ho stated. “We have made clear that states have a legitimate interest in combating voter fraud, and thus enjoy ‘considerable discretion in deciding what is an adequate level of effectiveness to serve [their] important interests in voter integrity.'”
Trump and Paxton praise the decision
Voting rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, expressed deep concern over the decision’s impact on access to the ballot box. The ACLU and other civil rights groups said they are reviewing the decision and weighing a possible appeal to the full Fifth Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the ruling, calling it a crucial step in safeguarding elections.
“Voter ID is one of the most crucial tools in the battle against election fraud, and I’m pleased to see the court affirm our fundamental right to defend the integrity of our democratic process,” said Paxton in a news release after the decision. “We are going to enforce that requirement aggressively and continue to ensure that our state’s elections are secure.”
Even President Donald Trump praised the decision on his Truth Social platform: “THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!! Should be Nationwide!!!”
Learn more about vulnerabilities in elections, like the lack of voter ID laws, at VoteFraud.news.
Watch this video from “Recharge Freedom” debunking the claim that voter ID laws are racist.
This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Federal judge halts PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP requirement for voter ID.
Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approve voter ID constitutional amendment, Trump celebrates “big win.”
Federal judge upholds Ohio law requiring photo ID at polling booths.
Americans want stricter voter identification laws, a new poll shows.
Jim Price: Americans must FIX election system to get the president they really want – Brighteon.TV.
Sources include:
TheNationalPulse.com
TexasTribune.org
FoxNews.com
TexasScorecard.com
Brighteon.com
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