Justice Dept. Sues Texas Over Voting Restrictions

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:
Alesha Arrington
@aleshadalin
TX voting law is cruel, predatory and hostile!

DOJ sues TX because ... Democracy🤷🏽‍♀️

“Our democracy depends on the right of eligible voters to cast a ballot and to have that ballot counted.” - Garland

The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature passed a sweeping bill this summer overhauling the state’s elections, and Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law.

Justice Dept. Sues Texas Over Voting Restrictions
The department argued that a major voting law passed by Republicans would disenfranchise several groups of vulnerable Texans.
nytimes.com
5:03 PM · Nov 4, 2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/us/politics/texas-voting-restrictions-lawsuit.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/PQQO4

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Thursday sued Texas over the state’s new voting law, arguing that the Republican-led measure would disenfranchise Texans who do not speak English, people with disabilities, older voters and those who live outside the United States.

The department argues that the law violates the Voting Rights Act by limiting the help that poll workers can provide to voters. It also contends that the law runs afoul of the Civil Rights Act by requiring mail-in ballots to be thrown out if they fail to include a voter’s current driver’s license number, an election identification number or part of a Social Security number.

The Texas voting law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in September, includes measures barring election officials from sending voters unsolicited absentee ballot applications and from promoting the use of mail voting, as well as further limiting the use of drop boxes. The law also greatly expands the authority of partisan poll watchers.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit comes as President Biden’s administration and congressional Democrats face sustained pressure to counteract one of the greatest contractions to voting access in generations, with Republicans in 19 states passing at least 33 laws that place new barriers in the voting process. In June, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that the Justice Department would prioritize the issue and double its enforcement staff.

*snip*

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. I thought they weren't doing anything and Garland has to go

I think I read that somewhere recently

[sheshe2]

2. Garland. not doing anything and should be removed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Say what?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Justice Department sues Texas over new voting restrictions

These are two of the easiest to attack voter suppression measures in SB1 that serve no purpose other than to suppress the vote. This is a well done petition drafted by strong attorneys and this case will be fun to watch

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The Justice Department is suing Texas over new voting restrictions that the federal government says will disenfranchise eligible voters and violate federal voting rights law.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in San Antonio challenges the law known as SB1 passed earlier this year to overhaul election procedures in the state.....

The Justice Department lawsuit said the law illegally restricts voters' rights by requiring rejection of mail ballots "for immaterial errors and omissions." The law also harms the rights of voters with limited English proficiency, military members deployed away from home and voters overseas, the Justice Department alleged.

"Before SB 1, the State of Texas already imposed some of the strictest limitations in the nation on the right of certain citizens to voting assistance. SB 1 further, and impermissibly, restricts the core right to meaningful assistance in the voting booth," the Justice Department said.

This case makes me smile

[Septua]

4. Have wondered why state laws haven't already been questioned...

..as unconstitutional. If you read what is already law, it seems obvious to me, the recent state suppression stuff is in violation. Probably not that simple but you'd think a sharp lawyer could make a case.

And Alito's summation, "Just because voting may be "inconvenient for some," doesn't mean that access to voting is unequal" might suggest otherwise.