Texas has 45 days to comply with National Voter Registration Law

Chief Judge Orlando Garcia released his judgment to address Texas’ violation of the National Voter Registration Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Court has ordered the State to: implement online voter registration with drivers’ license transactions within 45 days. They have until July 2 to create a broad-based public education plan to ensure that voters know about this new registration option; and submit data to TCRP and our co-counsel, Waters & Krauss, LLP, for three years so we can monitor compliance.

Last Thursday, Chief Judge Garcia ordered the parties in the case to submit proposals to address the State’s violation. Flouting the Court’s order, the State did not propose a solution, instead attacking the Plaintiffs’ proposal.

Beth Stevens, Voting Rights Director for the Texas Civil Rights Project, issued the following statement:

“We are elated that the Chief Judge granted our proposed solution. 25 years ago, Congress passed the NVRA to get more people registered to vote; it’s long past time for the State to stop wasting time and resources defending its unlawful violation of this pivotal voting rights law. We urge State officials to come to the table and work with us to implement the court’s that will ensure that not one single voter loses their opportunity to vote.”