This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News on June 9, 2017. Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) was passed by both houses of the Texas Legislature and was signed by Governor Abbott on June 1, 2017. The updates to the law are designed to go into effect on January 1, 2018. Voter ID requirements are codified in the Texas Election Code, Chapter 31, Subchapter A. While SB 5 does lighten the burden on potential voters in two ways, it also issues a new serious threat of criminal pr

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News on October 4, 2016. Registration is required in order to vote in the upcoming November election. People can register in person or by mail. The Texas Secretary of State says the deadline to register is October 11. If registering by mail, the application must be postmarked on or before October 11. Don’t wait for the deadline; give yourself and the county as much time as possible to be sure your registration is proper. A

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on August 29, 2016. The case in federal court was filed against Texas by a large group of plaintiffs, including the United States of America, the Texas Association of Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners, the Texas League of Young Voters Education Fund, the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches, and many other organizations and individuals. They alleged that the Voter ID law (SB 14) passed by the Texas L