Judge rules Texas 'plainly violates certain voters' constitutional rights' -- and orders a fix before

[SheltieLover]

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/09/judge-rules-texas-plainly-violates-certain-voters-constitutional-rights-and-orders-a-fix-before-november/

Judge rules Texas ‘plainly violates certain voters’ constitutional rights’ — and orders a fix before November
Published 1 min ago on September 8, 2020By Texas Tribune

As Texas prepares for an expected deluge of mail-in votes in November, a federal judge has found that one facet of the state’s signature verification rules for those ballots is unconstitutional and must be reworked for the upcoming election.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled Tuesday that the state’s process for determining whether there is a mismatch between a voter’s signature on their ballot envelope and the signature the voter used on their application to vote by mail “plainly violates certain voters’ constitutional rights.

In his order, Garcia ordered the Texas secretary of state to inform local election officials within 10 days that it is unconstitutional to reject a ballot based on a “perceived signature mismatch” without first notifying the voter about the mismatch and giving the voter a “meaningful opportunity” to correct the issue.

More at link.

[dchill]

1. Clearly the right thing to do. Surprisingly.

[secondwind]

2. Nice.

[Lithos]

3. Yeah, currently can't be abused

No way for someone to racially profile someone just by name, or find a precinct number and assume they may vote one way or another. Good on this judge for insisting on a check and balance.

[gratuitous]

4. Fix it before November

And if they don't fix it? Is someone going to jail? Or paying a hefty fine out of his own pocket? Or do the 2020 results stand even though certain voters had their rights violated, and we'll fix it for 2022? By which time Republicans will dream up a new way to disenfranchise a crucial percentage of certain voters, and fix another election.

[procon]

5. It concerns me that it is normal to see your signature

change over time as we are and are beset with various. infirmities afflictions. This affects most us a seniors, so Texas and other vote suppression states see this as an easy way to block large groups of people.

What's to be done? Is there an easy way to update a signature for a segment of the population that is already in poor health, not mobile, may not have the proper ID? Or was this a built in 'feature' intended to make it unlikely these voters would be able to resolve the problem?

[Hulk]

8. Can you update your signature at the election office?

I realize that's a major hassle at our age.

[LeftInTX]

11. It's updated when you apply for an annual ballot.

[LeftInTX]

9. Texas requires a new signature each year. (Must reapply every year)

The application and the ballot need to match.

[procon]

12. California makes it really easy for voters.

"Once you register, you may vote in all state and local elections. You will not need to register to vote again unless you change your name or change your political party preference. If you move, you can update your California residence address by re-registering online or by submitting a paper voter registration application. "

I think my original voter registration probably dates from the early 70s when I moved to California. I'm pretty sure my current signature looks more shaker and larger than the one on file. Is it close enough to match? So far California says I'm still good to go.

[LeftInTX]

13. This court case is about Vote By Mail, not Voter Registration

I've lived here 26 years and the last time I re-registered was when I moved here. They don't do signature matches on in person voting.

Vote by Mail ballot request requires a new application every year. The signature on the ballot is compared with the signature on the VBM ballot request.

[luvtheGWN]

6. What qualifications does a "signature" person have

to determine whether the signatures match? I'm betting it's just someone's "opinion" who is NOT a handwriting expert. You're absolutely right about signatures changing as the years go by. Since I started using the computer (30 years or so) my handwriting has deteriorated significantly. Now when I send a letter to a friend or family member, I use the computer and apologize for the "seeming formality" of it. My late mother would be horrified!

[Hulk]

7. Does "ordering a fix" mean anything in Texas

I get so discouraged when the state of Texas comes up. Was stationed at Ft. Hood for a year way back in 1970. Have several friends from Texas, and there are some wonderful people there. There are just too damn many cult members and GOPutin types to change. One of the worst confederate states from what I've read...and too many idiots still are proud of that part of their history.

[LeftInTX]

10. Not a thing

Judge Garcia is a Democrat. This will be appealed.