Texas and Wisconsin Federal Courts Step Up to Protect Voters

Federal court decisions in Texas and Wisconsin last month should put the brakes on legislative efforts across the country to keep Americans from voting.  

The court rulings, which unfortunately are likely to be appealed, put at least a temporary hold on enforcement of a pair of unnecessary voter ID laws. Restrictive voting statutes remain on the books in too many states however, and only a relative handful of state and local governments have made the legal changes and/or financial investments suggested in 2013 by the bipartisan President’s Commission on Election Administration to simplify registration and voting and shorten voting lines on Election Day.

It is imperative that courts keep hearing these cases and recognize the impact such laws have on voters. Lawmakers and election officials should follow the lead of these courts, and focus on maximizing voter turnout, not limiting it.