A U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision supporting a Texas law requiring voters to present identification when applying for mail-in ballots. This law, criticized by Democrats, has reportedly impacted the party’s performance in recent elections. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) spoke out against the ruling, suggesting that voter ID laws negatively affected Democratic turnout in the 2024 election and were designed to suppress votes through limited transparency.
During an appearance on MSNBC, Crockett emphasized the decline in Democratic support since the voter ID rules were enacted. She argued that Republican lawmakers had implemented voting restrictions in secrecy, contributing to the disenfranchisement of certain voter groups. According to her, these changes may have altered outcomes in tightly contested races, despite Texas not being a statewide battleground for Democrats.
The law in question, Senate Bill 1 (SB1), was passed in 2021 and invalidated numerous mail-in ballots due to new identification requirements. Under the law, voters must include their name and residential address when requesting and submitting mail-in ballots. Crockett and other Democrats argue that this has created unnecessary obstacles for voters.
A three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals found that SB1 does not violate federal voting rights regulations. Writing for the panel, Judge James Ho stated that the ID requirement helps confirm a voter’s identity and is relevant to determining voting eligibility. The panel unanimously upheld the law, with support from Trump-appointed Judges Ho and Don Willett, and Reagan appointee Patrick Higginbotham.
Judge Ho defended the requirements by noting that the information needed is publicly accessible and could be misused by bad actors to request ballots fraudulently. Therefore, requiring ID helps prevent voter impersonation and ensures ballot integrity.
This ruling could politically benefit Republicans as Congress debates the SAVE Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship for new voter registration. Although passed by the House in April, it faces challenges in the Senate, where moderate Republicans, such as Sen. Susan Collins, may pose obstacles to its final passage.
