Appeals court strikes down ‘discriminatory’ Texas voter ID law

*This is huge! And surprising, given the 3 – 0 final decision. It’s great news for Latino voters in Texas, especially on the eve of the Voting Rights Act 50th anniversary. VL

By Jon Herskovitz and  Sandra Maler, Reuters

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday struck down a Texas voter ID law, saying it violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act through its “discriminatory effects.”

The decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit was pertaining to one of a series of laws enacted in Republican-governed states requiring voters to show certain forms of identification before being allowed to vote.

“We affirm the district court’s finding that SB 14 (Texas Senate Bill 14) violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act through its discriminatory effect,” a three-judge panel from the New Orleans-based court said.

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