Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law
A federal judge in Texas struck down the state's voter ID law less than a month before Election Day, characterizing it as discriminatory against African-Americans and Latinos.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos called a law requiring Texans to present a government-issued identification at the ballot box an "unconstitutional poll tax." She issued her ruling Thursday evening.
The state legislature passed the law in 2011 as a means to prevent voter fraud. But records from the state attorney general's office show only 18 convictions for voter fraud from 2002 to 2012.
Meanwhile the Justice Department says 600,000 registered voters in Texas lack the proper ID to cast a ballot.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abott, who is the Republican nominee for governor, said he will appeal the ruling.
