The League of United Latin American Citizens and Voto Latino filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block a new state law that aims to limit where Texans can claim residency to register to vote.
The lawsuit, filed in United States Federal District Court in Austin, alleges that the law “interferes with the basic freedom of political expression by prohibiting Texas voters from establishing residence for the purpose of influencing elections.”
The law limits the type of addresses that can be used when a voter registers.
The lawsuit comes the same day Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to Austin to address voting legislation that died after Democrats staged a rare walkout, denying the Republican-controlled House of Representatives a quorum. Texas is one of several Republican-controlled states to take up so-called “election integrity” legislation after the 2020 election.
“This measure imposes vague, onerous restrictions on the voter registration process, chilling political participation and further burdening the abilities of lawful voters to cast their ballots and make their voices heard,” said Rodolfo Rosales, Jr., Texas LULAC State Director. “LULAC will not allow these barriers to be erected or allow them to stand unchallenged.”
The lawsuit names election officials in several large counties as defendants — including in Dallas — tasked with carrying out the law.
Dallas County Election Administrator Michael Scarpello was not prepared to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday, saying he found out about it late in the day.
He said his department, which manages both voter registration and elections administration, was reviewing all new election laws signed by the governor.
”We’re just beginning a review of all the legislation that was passed and how we will adjust our operation to those changes,” Scarpello said.
