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https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-texas-georgia-republicans-restrictions-judges-7d90fd5f38a4ba1b613343213ec13547

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Federal judges in Georgia and
Texas have ruled against key provisions of two
controversial election laws passed two years ago
as the Republican Party sought to tighten voting
rules after former President Donald Trump’s loss
in the 2020 presidential contest.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez struck down a
provision of Texas’ law requiring that mail voters
provide the same identification number they used
when they registered to vote. He ruled the
requirement violated the U.S. Civil Rights Act
because it led to people being unable to cast
ballots due to a matter irrelevant to whether they
are registered.

The change led to skyrocketing mail ballot rejections
in the first election after the law passed in
September 2021 and was targeted in a lawsuit from the
U.S. Department of Justice.

“This ruling sends a clear message that states may not
impose unlawful and unnecessary requirements that
disenfranchise eligible voters seeking to participate
in our democracy,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen
Clarke said in a statement after the ruling, which
came Thursday.

In Georgia, voting rights advocates got a more mixed
set of rulings Friday from U.S. District Judge J.P.
Boulee.

He temporarily prohibited officials from enforcing
penalties against people who provide food and water
to voters waiting in line as long as they are more
than 150 feet from the building where voting is
taking place. He also blocked a part of the law that
requires voters to provide their birthdate on absentee
ballot envelopes.

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