US Texas Federal Court Rejects compulsory showing voter ID law before voting

US Texas Federal Court Rejects compulsory showing  voter ID law before voting

USA
Washington
Thursday

“The Supreme Court of the United States has already upheld voter ID laws as a constitutional method of ensuring integrity at the ballot box,”

But law needs to pass the legal test and its provisions also.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed SB 14 into law on May 27, 2011.

The law has yet to take effect because the state needs “preclearance” for any change in voting procedures from either the U.S. attorney general or a three-judge U.S. District Court panel.

A federal court  blocked a Texas law that would require voters to present photo IDs to election officials before being allowed to cast ballots in November.

A three-judge U.S. District Court panel ruled that that SB 14 voter ID law
would place an unfair burden on minorities and the poor.

the implicit costs of obtaining SB 14-qualifying ID will fall most heavily on the poor and that a disproportionately high percentage of African Americans and Hispanics in Texas live in poverty.

We therefore conclude that SB 14 is likely to lead to ‘retrogression in the position of racial minorities with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise.’”

The judges said such voter ID laws might well be approved if they ensure that all prospective voters can easily obtain free photo IDs, and that any underlying documents required to obtain that ID are truly free of charge.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said the state would appeal the panel's rejection to the U.S. Supreme Court.

What is  the situation in India regarding voting cards?

One is not allowed to vote even if he holds and shows the  voter card even if he is a movie star he or she is not allowed to vote if name is not on list, which is in the possession of  election officer.


Reality views by sm –

Friday, August 31, 2012

Tags -  Texas Voter ID Law Rejected