The Justice Department is objecting to a new photo ID law in Texas for voters saying the state has failed to demonstrate that the the law is not discriminatory by design against Hispanic voters.
The departments head of the civil rights division Tom Perez wrote a a six-page letter to Texas director of elections saying that Texas has not sustained its burden under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to show that the new law will not have a discriminatory effect on minority voters. About 11 percent of Hispanic voters reportedly lack state-issued identification.
Perez wrote that while the state says the new photo ID requirement is to ensure electoral integrity and deter ineligible voters from voting the state did not include evidence of significant in-person voter impersonation not already addressed by the states existing laws.
Perez added that the number of people lacking any personal ID or drivers license issued by
the state ranges from from 603892 to 795955 but of that span 29-38 percent of them are Hispanic.
According to the states own data a Hispanic registered voter is at least 46.5 percent and potentially 120.0 percent more likely than a non-Hispanic registered voter to lack this identification Perez wrote.
Even using the data most favorable to the state ... that disparity is statistically significant he said.
A spokesman with the Texas Secretary of States office which runs the Elections Division was not immediately available. Gov. Rick Perrys office was also working on a response. However a Democratic state lawmaker told the Houston Chronicle that he was thankful for the decision.
Throughout the pre-clearance process Texas consistently failed to produce information showing the law would not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act exists for this exact purpose: protecting the ability of all Americans to access the ballot box Sen. Rodney Ellis D-Houston told the newspaper.
However House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith a Texas Republican said the Texas law was based on an Indiana law that was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Voter ID laws help ensure the integrity of our elections and protect the rights of lawful voters. If citizens are required to show ID in order to open a bank account cash a check drive a car or board a plane how much more important is it to show ID in order to exercise one of our most valuable democratic rights? he asked. This is an abuse of executive authority and an affront to the citizens of Texas. Its time for the Obama administration to learn not to mess with Texas.
Perez noted that the Texas law allowed voters to show military ID a U.S. citizenship certificate a U.S. passport or a license to carry a concealed handgun but the state did not provide any statistics noting how many people lack state ID but have the other allowable forms.
Nor has the state provided any data on the demographic makeup of such voters Perez wrote.
Texas is the second state to have its voter ID law challenged. The Justice Department already blocked a similar law from taking effect in South Carolina -- the first time a voter ID law was rejected by the department in nearly 20 years.
South Carolina sued Holder in response arguing that enforcement of its new law will not disenfranchise any voters.
As for the Texas law Perez wrote that while lawmakers offered to make election identification certificates available to protect low-income voters who dont already have any ID the documents are not free and it creates the additional burden of traveling to a drivers license office undergoing an application process that includes fingerprinting and finding supporting documentation to prove ones identity.
Using Census data the Justice Department argued that the law creates an undue hardship on Hispanic populations that dont have the means to get a vehicle live extremely far from a drivers license office or cant make it during the offices limited operating hours.
Upon a federal court order Texas recently changed its March 1 primary date to May 29 after a months-long fight over redistricting.
The Justice Department is objecting to a new photo ID law in Texas for voters saying the state has failed to demonstrate that the the law is not discriminatory by design against Hispanic voters.
The departments head of the civil rights division Tom Perez wrote a a six-page letter to Texas director of elections saying that Texas has not sustained its burden under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to show that the new law will not have a discriminatory effect on minority voters. About 11 percent of Hispanic voters reportedly lack state-issued identification.
Perez wrote that while the state says the new photo ID requirement is to ensure electoral integrity and deter ineligible voters from voting the state did not include evidence of significant in-person voter impersonation not already addressed by the states existing laws.
Perez added that the number of people lacking any personal ID or drivers license issued by
the state ranges from from 603892 to 795955 but of that span 29-38 percent of them are Hispanic.
According to the states own data a Hispanic registered voter is at least 46.5 percent and potentially 120.0 percent more likely than a non-Hispanic registered voter to lack this identification Perez wrote.
Even using the data most favorable to the state ... that disparity is statistically significant he said.
A spokesman with the Texas Secretary of States office which runs the Elections Division was not immediately available. Gov. Rick Perrys office was also working on a response. However a Democratic state lawmaker told the Houston Chronicle that he was thankful for the decision.
Throughout the pre-clearance process Texas consistently failed to produce information showing the law would not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act exists for this exact purpose: protecting the ability of all Americans to access the ballot box Sen. Rodney Ellis D-Houston told the newspaper.
However House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith a Texas Republican said the Texas law was based on an Indiana law that was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Voter ID laws help ensure the integrity of our elections and protect the rights of lawful voters. If citizens are required to show ID in order to open a bank account cash a check drive a car or board a plane how much more important is it to show ID in order to exercise one of our most valuable democratic rights? he asked. This is an abuse of executive authority and an affront to the citizens of Texas. Its time for the Obama administration to learn not to mess with Texas.
Perez noted that the Texas law allowed voters to show military ID a U.S. citizenship certificate a U.S. passport or a license to carry a concealed handgun but the state did not provide any statistics noting how many people lack state ID but have the other allowable forms.
Nor has the state provided any data on the demographic makeup of such voters Perez wrote.
Texas is the second state to have its voter ID law challenged. The Justice Department already blocked a similar law from taking effect in South Carolina -- the first time a voter ID law was rejected by the department in nearly 20 years.
South Carolina sued Holder in response arguing that enforcement of its new law will not disenfranchise any voters.
As for the Texas law Perez wrote that while lawmakers offered to make election identification certificates available to protect low-income voters who dont already have any ID the documents are not free and it creates the additional burden of traveling to a drivers license office undergoing an application process that includes fingerprinting and finding supporting documentation to prove ones identity.
Using Census data the Justice Department argued that the law creates an undue hardship on Hispanic populations that dont have the means to get a vehicle live extremely far from a drivers license office or cant make it during the offices limited operating hours.
Upon a federal court order Texas recently changed its March 1 primary date to May 29 after a months-long fight over redistricting.
