A three-judge panel in San Antonio, Texas, unanimously ruled Thursday that portions of the state’s House district map must be redrawn before the 2018 midterm elections.
The federal court concluded lawmakers purposely discriminated against minorities when they determined who would be included in nine state House of Representative districts in the Lone Star State.
The affected House districts include: Dallas County’s HD 103, 104, and 105; Nueces County’s HD 32 and 34; Bell County’s HD 54 and 55; and Tarrant County’s HD 90 and 93, according to the Texas Tribune.
The same court recently found two congressional districts — Republican Blake Farenthold’s CD 27 and Democrat Lloyd Doggett’s CD 35.
A federal court on Wednesday concluded Texas’ replacement voter identification bill is discriminatory and moved to block the law from being implemented.
“Consequently, the only appropriate remedy for SB 14’s discriminatory purpose or discriminatory result is an injunction against enforcement of the law and SB 5, which perpetuates SB 14’s discriminatory features,” the court wrote.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton plans to appeal Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos’ injunction on SB 5 and 14.
“Today’s ruling is outrageous. Senate Bill 5 was passed by the people’s representatives and includes all the changes to the Texas voter ID law requested by the 5th Circuit,” Paxton said in a statement Wednesday evening. “The U.S. Department of Justice is satisfied that the amended voter ID law has no discriminatory purpose or effect. Safeguarding the integrity of elections in Texas is essential to preserving our democracy. The 5th Circuit should reverse the entirety of the district court’s ruling.”
This is the eighth time since 2011 that a federal judge has concluded the Lone Star State purposely discriminated against minority voters through redistricting and enhanced voter ID laws.
