Obama-Appointed Judge Strikes Down Texas' Voter ID Law

With less than a month to go before the 2014 mid-terms, a federal judge has unleashed a harsh ruling on the state of Texas.

US Federal District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, an appointee of President Barack Obama, has ruled that Texas’ voter ID law is unconstitutional. As the Austin American-Statesman notes in its story about the ruling, Ramos is a Democrat and her decision was not unexpected.

Ramos’ 147-page opinion likens the voter ID law to a “poll tax.” Which it is not, as Texans can obtain a free ID from the state if they lack any of the several forms of photo ID which are accepted at voting places.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is the Republican nominee for governor, is appealing Ramos’ decision.

“The State of Texas will immediately appeal and will urge the 5th (U.S.) Circuit (Court of Appeals) to resolve this matter quickly to avoid voter confusion in the upcoming election,” said Lauren Bean, a spokeswoman for Abbott’s office. “The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that voter ID laws are constitutional so we are confident the Texas law will be upheld on appeal.”

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa quoted a known election thief to cheer for the ruling:

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa reacted to the ruling by citing former Lyndon Johnson, the former president from Texas who championed equal rights.

“As our former President Lyndon B. Johnson once said: ‘It is wrong—deadly wrong—to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote in this country,’” Hinojosa said.

Johnson got his start in politics with an infamous election theft, so he might not be the best person to quote at this point.

Voter ID is supported by about 70% of Texans across all demographics. Texas has already held on election using voter ID, in 2013, and it went off without a hitch despite Democrat efforts to tar the law. Turnout increased, even in areas where Democrats claim that voter ID is intended to suppress votes.

Early voting in Texas begins in less than two weeks.