Target: US District Court Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos
Goal: Applaud ruling against Texas voter identification law that discriminates against minorities.
Thanks in part to petitions like ForceChange’s Demand Reform of Prejudiced Voter ID Laws, a federal judge has ruled that a voter ID law in Texas was designed with the intention of discriminating against the state’s minority voters. This ruling means that the voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act and is unconstitutional.
Texas passed this law in 2011; it has been in effect since 2013 and has been the source of controversy and legal battles since then. The law requires a government-issued form of photo identification in order to vote, such as a passport, driver’s license, or military ID. Those who support the law claim its intention is to prevent voter fraud, but minorities and poor citizens in Texas often have trouble obtaining government-issued photo IDs.
Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos wrote, “The terms of the bill were unduly strict. Many categories of acceptable photo IDs permitted by other states were omitted from the Texas bill.” Sign the letter below to applaud this decision in favor of protecting voter rights in Texas.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Judge Ramos,
I am writing to thank you for ruling against the discriminatory voter ID law in Texas. Your ruling that the law was designed with the intention to discriminate against minority voters sends an important message to lawmakers about respecting the rights of voters, even those who are members of minority groups.
Voter ID laws impact poor and minority voters almost exclusively, and your ruling against the Texas law is a reminder that discriminatory legislation will be met with backlash. Your decision will go a long way to ensure fair voting practices and accessibility in Texas.
With other states having already made similar rulings, it’s clear that these laws are entirely discriminatory in nature and that they will not be accepted. I thank you for your part in fighting back against voter suppression on a state level.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Makaristos
congrats texas
Good news!