Texas’ mail ballot ID requirements restored by federal appeals court
Summary
A federal appeals court restored parts of a 2021 Texas election law that requires ID rules for mail-in ballots. This reverses an earlier court decision that blocked these rules due to concerns about voter accessibility and disability rights.Key Facts
- The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated parts of Texas Senate Bill 1 related to mail-in and assisted voting.
- The law demands voters provide an ID number or social security number on mail ballot applications that match state records.
- A lower court had blocked these rules in March 2025, agreeing they made voting harder for people with disabilities.
- The appeals court found that the plaintiffs (those suing) mostly did not have the right to challenge the law (lack of standing).
- The ruling emphasized the state’s interest in preventing voter fraud and protecting election integrity.
- Attorney General Ken Paxton called the court decision a "major victory."
- The court noted that errors causing ballot rejections due to ID number issues dropped from 11% to 2.7% after the law was enforced.
- Senate Bill 1 was initially passed in 2019, changing voting rules, and caused controversy among voter rights groups and lawmakers.
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