NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court in New Orleans on Wednesday ruled that Texas' tough voter identification law is discriminatory and violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The three-judge panel ruled that Texas' strict voter ID requirements, which are among the most rigorous in the country, disproportionately discriminate against blacks and Hispanics by making it more difficult for them to vote. The 1965 law declares illegal any provision that suppresses minorities' voting rights.
Current Texas law mandates that all voters bring with them a government-issued ID to the polls in order to vote. The plaintiffs, which include the U.S. Department of Justice, claimed the law is discriminatory because a good number of poor and minority citizens have a reduced access to the required forms of ID.
Student identifications, voter registration cards and utility bills are not considered acceptable proof of identity under the Texas law.
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The state of Texas can appeal the ruling to the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court.
Texas officials deny its voter ID law is discriminatory, saying instead they are designed to "ensure legal votes are not discounted by illegal ones."
"Texas will continue to fight for its voter ID requirement to ensure the integrity of elections in the Lone Star State," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement cited by the New York Times Wednesday.
Even though Wednesday's ruling was a minor victory for voting rights advocates, it was also a partial victory for Texas' tough voter ID law. In the decision, the panel rejected a lower court judge's declaration that the Texas law has a discriminatory purpose. The panel sent that provision back to the lower court to reevaluate against a tougher standard of proof.
"Today's ruling was a victory on the fundamental question of Texas' right to protect the integrity of our elections, and the state's common-sense voter ID law remains in effect," Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton said.
