Texas Voter ID Law (SB 14)

Support

More Republican/Conservative

Greg Abbott

Rep. Patricia Harless

Rep. Harless

Gov. Rick Perry

Oppose

More Democrat/Liberal

Marc Veasey

Wendy Davis

People who aren't middle aged white males above the poverty line

Hispanic and Minority Groups

NAACP

Mexican American Legislative Caucus

Women

Married/Divorced who have changed their name

Senior Citizens

AARP

Poor/Homeless

Students

Student's attending out of state

U.S. Department of Justice

Libertarians

Requires a photo ID to be eligible to vote

7 acceptable forms of photo ID

Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS (Free)

Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS

United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph

United States passport

United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph

Texas personal identification card issued by DPS

Allows exception for Provisional Ballot

Allowed for people with 50% disability or higher

Voter will be required to visit the voter registrar’s office within six calendar days of the date of the election.

Must present one of the forms of photo ID

Must present an affidavit of religious objection or natural disaster.

Identification must be presented at polls (unless ballot by mail)

Increases penalty for voting illegaly

Voting illegaly - second degree felony

Attempted illegal voting- State jail felony

Possible "selective" voter turnout supression

Isolates and restricts the voter turnout of those who are unable to acquire a voter ID.

Anyone with discrepencies between married and maiden name

Anyone that may not have access to the documents they need in order to get valid identification, including their birth certificate

The Justice Department had previously rejected the Texas law, on the grounds that about 600,000 registered voters there lack a state-issued driver's license or identification card.

2013 Elections

Voter Turnout Increased, relative to other years

State officials say that 1,144,844 ballots where cast in 2013, as opposed to 690,052 in 2011 and 1,058,986 in 2009

The increased voter turnout was still relatively miniscule - from %8.13 to %8.51 of registered voters.

Texas still lurks in last on voter turnout

Problems

Women who had changed their names where forced to sign afidavites to vote. i.e. Wendy Davis

Longer poll lines

Discourage Voter Fraud

Was voter fraud ever really a problem?

In an essay written on USA today, Greg Abott claimed that his offce has convicted 52 cases of voter fraud since 2002

The New Voter ID law does nothing to adress mail in ballot fraud

Inconclusive, as of now

Supports the idea of "One Person, One vote"

24th Amendment - Prohibits a Poll Tax

Voting Rights Act of 1965 - prevents many state and local governments from enacting new voter ID requirements.

Shelby County v. Holder (2013) - Rules section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional