Texas
Related: About this forumMALDEF Sues Bexar County Over Outdated Voter ID Signs And Rules At Polling Locations
The Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund has filed a lawsuit challenging Bexar Countys use of outdated Voter ID signs in polling locations and use of election officials turning away eligible voters.
MALDEF alleges that Bexar County has posted and announced false and unauthorized voter ID requirements in early voting polling places throughout the county. The groups Nina Perales says they are asking a state judge to remove all illegal voter ID materials from polling locations as well as from the countys website and voter hotline.
Earlier this summer a federal appeals court struck down Texas 2011 Voter ID law, saying that the provisions violated the US Voting Rights Act. The federal order required that Texas expand its list of acceptable IDs, include a provision that allows for voting without a photo ID and create new signs for polling places to inform voters of the new requirements.
http://tpr.org/post/maldef-sues-bexar-county-over-outdated-voter-id-signs-and-rules-polling-locations
luvmybluestate
(54 posts)Gothmog
(145,619 posts)There were reports on the hotline since the first day of early voting on Bexar County. A TRO was issued on Friday http://www.ksat.com/news/politics/voter-id-lawsuit-filed-against-bexar-county
A few hours after the lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon, a judge granted a temporary restraining order against Bexar County elections administrator Jacque Callanen, asking her to make corrections to any documents that were causing voters to be confused about ID requirements.
"Remember, they can vote even if they don't have documentation. They can sign an affidavit," said Lydia Camarillo, vice president of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project...
The following statement was released late Friday afternoon from the Bexar County Elections Department:
"Today, Jacque Callanen, Bexar County Elections Administrator, agreed to a temporary restraining order in order to avoid a drawn out hearing on the allegations made by Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
This election has had evolving changes to the voter ID and the posting requirements at the polling places. The elections office has responded to all issues brought to its attention and corrected any issues that may have existed at the polling places when early voting began.
These issues were not significant and did not result in a single voter being disallowed to vote. In fact, there has been record voting this election cycle.
However, to ensure the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and voters of Bexar County that its election officials are complying with all of the rules governing this election the Elections Department voluntarily agreed to enter the temporary order."