Texas Voter ID Trial Ending

My SA: “Four days of testimony ended Thursday in a federal trial on the legality of a new Texas voter ID law that was rejected by the Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act. The case is being watched closely by other states that have recently passed restrictive voter laws. ‘It’s over. The trial has ended. It’s a tough set of issues, it’s a tough case,’ said U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer, one of three federal judges hearing the case.”

More:

Dr. Stephen Ansolabehere, a Justice Department witness, testified Thursday that the new ID law would disproportionately impact black and Hispanic voters casting ballots at precinct polling places — the basis of the justice department’s pre-clearance denial of the law — but admitted that his conclusion could be flawed.

Ansolabehere, a Harvard University professor, said that his analysis of voter registration rolls, driver’s license and concealed weapons permit records used to draw his conclusions were not foolproof.

The courtroom erupted in laughter several times as lawyers for Texas said his list of those potentially affected by the law was a gross overestimation and showed that former President George W. Bush, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Sen. Phil Gramm were on a list of people that did not have Texas IDs that exactly matched the voting rolls.

“I think it’s likely Sen. Hutchison has a photo ID,” Ansolabehere admitted

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