A federal judge hasn’t even issued his final opinion, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s staff is already preparing for an appeal of a decision related to the national Motor Voter law.
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia in San Antonio has agreed with a Texas civil rights group that Texas was violated the federal National Voter Registration Act, often called Motor Voter.
The Texas Civil Rights Project has sued the state, accusing it of treating some online voter registrations through drivers license renewals differently from those done in person. The result is the law is not being applied equally to all people, the group has argued.
But Paxton’s office said they are ready to challenge the decision once it’s issued.
“We are not surprised by the order issued on Tuesday by this particular judge,” said Marc Rylander, Paxton’s communications director. “The Fifth Circuit will not give merit to such judicial activism because Texas voter registration is consistent with federal voter laws. We look forward to filing an appeal.”
That response brought criticism from Paxton’s Democratic opponent in this year’s elections.
“It is offensive and dangerous for the Office of Attorney General to attack a judge personally,” Democrat Justin Nelson said. “Just as offensive, Ken Paxton is trying to make it more difficult to register to vote than it is to renew a driver’s license online. Anyone who has stood in line to obtain a driver’s license knows the hoops you have to jump through. We should make it easier to vote, not harder.”
Article by Jeremy Wallace • View on The Houston Chronicle
