After some Texans waited more than six hours to cast their ballot on Super Tuesday, national and Texas Democrats filed a lawsuit Thursday to block a state law that would eliminate straight-ticket voting come November.
In a federal lawsuit filed in Laredo against Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs, the Texas Democratic Party, along with the Democratic campaign arms of the U.S. House and Senate, allege that the ending the practice will “unjustifiably and discriminatorily burden Texans’ fundamental right to vote,” in an 2020 election where historic turnout is anticipated.
The lawsuit argues that straight ticket voting “plays a critical role” and allows for voters to cast their ballots more efficiently when they can have dozens of races to make a decision on. Without it, voters will take longer to cast their ballots, and minority voters who live in the more densely populated areas of the state will be disparately affected, the lawsuit argues.