Texas Democrats argue mail-in voting law discriminates based on age

[RandySF]

The Texas Democratic Party’s lawyer argued today before a federal appeals court that the state is unlawfully discriminating against the majority of the voting-age population by requiring only those under the age of 65 to have an excuse to receive a mail-in ballot.

It’s one of several last-minute battles playing out in the months leading up to the 2020 election, which is expected to yield historic turnout despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Just Thursday, the state’s elections director sent a letter to the Harris County elections clerk asking him to halt plans to send mail ballot applications to each of the county’s 2.4 million registered voters, calling it an “abuse of voters’ rights” without citing exactly how it would violate the law.

Clerk Chris Hollins has refused to change his plans. The Harris County GOP in a filing Monday asked the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue, and Monday afternoon Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit in district court.


https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-democrats-gop-mail-in-voting-election-2020-15527945.php

[Gothmog]

1. We had a conference/zoom call with Chad Dunn today concerning this case

I like the 26th amendment argument. We had 35 or so Texas lawyers on a zoom call for Chad to discuss this case today. My worry is timing. The SCOTUS is to have a conference on this case at the end of September and so Chad hopes to have a 5th Circuit ruling by then. After this ruling, the Texas GOP will seek en banc review or the grant of cert by the SCOTUS

[herding cats]

2. It makes no difference to me, personally.

I'm voting early in person. I'll be masked and I'll use proper hygiene procedures.

This state will not prohibit my right to vote. If I catch Covid-19, I caught it in the most patriotic way possible. I am a high risk person due to an autoimmune disorder. I've been social distancing since March of this year, but I'm still casting my vote in person. I won't be dissuaded, cowed or made too afraid to do what's right, and needed of me. I am voting.