Blocking parts of dangerous Texas voter ID law is a victory for democracy among many setbacks | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

AUSTIN, Texas — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Texas’ voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act — but it also said the law is not a “poll tax.” In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel struck down the controversial and Republican-backed measure that has been part of a legal battle for…

A federal appeals court unanimously struck down a Texas voter identification law Wednesday, saying it had a “discriminatory” effect on minority voters, reported the Associated Press. In an opinion written by a George W. Bush appointee, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the law violates the Voting Rights Act of…