AUSTIN, TX - Today, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Texas Voter ID Law as violating the Voting Rights Act. The Texas Voter ID law passed as Senate Bill 14 from the 82nd Regular Legislative Session in 2011 as a way to prevent voter fraud.

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"This ruling confirms what we have been saying all along. The Voter ID law violates the federal 50 year-old Voting Rights Act that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. The right for our Texas citizens to vote must not be burdened with unnecessary hurdles.

Our Constitution aims toward improving our representative democracy. A better representative democracy depends on the inclusion and participation of citizens during elections. Creating barriers and turning away eligible voters undermines our democracy and creates voter suppression against our citizens."

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