Texas Voter ID Law Tested: Former House Speaker Denied
Texas voters are deciding on a number of constitutional and political issues, from funding water projects to giving tax breaks to aerospace companies.
But the focus Tuesday will be a question of how voters adapt to the state's new voter ID law, which was passed this year and is seeing its first statewide test Tuesday.
The law says voters must have a valid photo ID with a name that matches the name on the voting rolls.
Even being one of the most recognizable politicians in Texas doesn't help if you don't have the requisite documents.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports former House Speaker Jim Wright was denied a voter ID card over the weekend.
USA Today reports on opponents of the law who claim it is a Republican strategy to suppress Democratic votes. Supporters say it is a way to safeguard the integrity of elections.
Thirty-four other states either have or are contemplating similar laws.
The Atlantic reports that so far the voter ID law has nearly denied multiple Texas politicians the right to vote.
"Attorney General Greg Abbott, gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis, and State Senator Leticia Van de Putte were nearly turned away because their names on state IDs, like their driver's license, don't match their names on voting records, which are usually more casual."
