AUSTIN – Despite scant evidence of actual cheating at the polls, allegations of voter fraud fueled the controversial law that makes a picture ID necessary to vote in Texas. Continue Reading »
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Catholic group urges TAPPS review
The organization that represents Texas’ Catholic high schools on Thursday called for a comprehensive review of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, calling TAPPS’ treatment of Jewish and Muslim schools unacceptable. Continue Reading »
Ellis Email Express
Dear Friend,
I want to provide you a quick update on the continued assault on women’s health, the alarming impact reckless education budget cuts are having on our children’s schools, and how you can get involved and make your voice heard before more cuts are enacted. Continue Reading »
Think tank envisions 2 futures for Houston
A Houston think tank has seen the city’s future. Make that two futures. Continue Reading »
TAPPS needs to reconsider Muslim school
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools acted prudently when it reversed — under legal threat and immense public pressure — a decision that would have forced a team from an Orthodox Jewish school in Houston to choose between forfeiting a spot in the TAPPS championship basketball tournament and observing the Jewish Sabbath. Continue Reading »
Ellis Email Express
Dear Friend,
I want to provide you a quick update on what’s happening with redistricting, voter ID, and some other important issues I have been working on in Austin and here in Houston. Continue Reading »
Houston senator chides TAPPS for rejecting Islamic school
A Democratic state senator from Houston accused a Texas private school association of failing to recognize how its decisions may further discrimination and prejudice. Continue Reading »
Ellis Applauds DOJ Rejection of Texas Voter ID Law
(Austin, Texas)//Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) today applauded the US Department of Justice’s decision to reject preclearance of Texas’ controversial voter ID law. The department had recently rejected preclearance of a very similar voter ID law passed in South Carolina.
In 2011, the Texas Legislature approved so-called voter ID legislation that will make it significantly more difficult for potentially over one million eligible Texas voters to exercise their right to vote. The legislation established some of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation. The law — opposed by groups ranging from AARP to MALDEF to the NAACP and LULAC — requires voters to show picture identification in order to vote.
“I thank the Justice Department for standing up for voting rights,” said Ellis. “Throughout the preclearance process, Texas consistently failed to produce information showing the law would not have a discriminatory impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act exists for this exact purpose: protecting the ability of all Americans to access the ballot box.”
Under Texas voter ID law, all voters must present one of the following forms of photo identification in order to be eligible to vote:
Driver’s license, election identification certificate, personal identification card, or concealed handgun license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety;
U.S. military identification card containing the person’s photograph;
U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph; or
U.S. passport.
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, all of the forms of identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented at the polling place.
“There are more UFO and Bigfoot sightings than documented cases of voter impersonation,” said Ellis. “After years of testimony and debate, supporters of Texas’ voter ID law still cannot prove their case that voter impersonation is even a minor problem in Texas. We, unfortunately, have plenty of evidence that it will disenfranchise legal student, elderly, African American and Hispanic voters. The Department of Justice saw that evidence and made the right decision.”
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Ellis Urges DOJ Reject Preclearance of Texas’ Voter ID Law
Fundamentally flawed, unnecessary law will disenfranchise legal voters, discriminate against minorities. Continue Reading »
Texas’ contested voter ID law could shave voter rolls
The state’s contested voter ID law could provoke widespread complications in the upcoming presidential elections, with as many as 18 percent of all registered voters across Texas apparently lacking state government-issued photo IDs to match their voter registration cards, according to records obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Continue Reading »