Texas Law on Mail-in Ballots Upheld by Appeals Court

A unanimous decision by a three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has given the green light to a Texas law that voids mail-in ballots lacking a voter’s state ID number or part of their Social Security number. This ruling was met with enthusiasm from President Donald Trump.

On Monday, the court determined that this aspect of the 2021 election integrity law, known as Senate Bill 1 (S.B.1), does not breach any federal laws outlined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the Act prevents states from denying voting rights due to insignificant paperwork errors that don’t impact ballot validity.

The panel included two appointees of Trump, U.S. Circuit Judge James C. Ho and U.S. Circuit Judge Don Willett, along with U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Higginbotham, who was appointed by Reagan.

“We have no difficulty concluding that this ID number requirement fully complies with a provision of federal law known by the parties as the materiality provision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” the court explained.

Judge Ho further noted, “The number-matching requirements are obviously designed to confirm that every mail-in voter is who he claims he is. And that is plainly material to determining whether an individual is qualified to vote.”

President Trump expressed his delight over the ruling on Truth Social, stating:

“THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!! Should be Nationwide!!!”

This decision is the latest in a series of efforts by the 5th Circuit Court to enhance election integrity. Earlier in March, the court mandated that mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted.