NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Texas solicitor general has told federal appeals court judges in New Orleans that the state has fixed any constitutional problems with its voter ID law with a simple change: allowing voters who don’t have an acceptable ID to fill out a form stating they had a reasonable impediment to obtaining one.
Scott Keller told a 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals panel Tuesday that the law should be allowed to take effect.
Opponents say the law still demonstrates a discriminatory intent, limiting the kinds of acceptable ID to ones more likely to be held by white voters. They also argue that some voters would be intimidated by the “reasonable impediment” form., fearing criminal penalties if they mistakenly enter wrong information.
The judges did not indicate when they would rule.