Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Voting Law

A federal judge has ruled that a key provision of Texas's 2021 Senate Bill 1, which enacted strict voting restrictions, is unconstitutional due to vagueness and violations of free speech. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez found that the law's language surrounding 'vote harvesting' created confusion and improperly restricted voter assistance efforts, placing severe penalties on those who provided help. Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigations into voter fraud, including raids on Latino voting rights activists, have been halted by this ruling, which the judge characterized as lacking evidence of actual voter fraud. Paxton has vowed to appeal, citing concerns about election integrity. Advocates, such as the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), welcomed the ruling as a victory against intimidation tactics used against voter engagement efforts. The judge's decision only addresses the canvassing restriction; other lawsuits challenging different provisions of the law are still pending.