The federal government is accusing Texas of circulating 鈥渋naccurate or misleading information鈥� to poll workers and would-be voters about relaxed identification requirements for the November elections.
鈥淟imited funds are being spent on inaccurate materials,鈥� the U.S. Department of Justice Tuesday.
The filing asked U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to 鈥渋ssue corrections to past press releases and other public statements鈥� by Texas officials and 鈥渦pdate and redistribute all electronic resources to reflect that all voters鈥� without one of seven types of photo identification required by a 2011 Texas law may cast a ballot in November.
Ramos last month ordered Texas to spend $2.5 million to educate the public about relaxed identification requirements for the looming elections 鈥� an attempt to ward off any confusion after a the state鈥檚 strict photo identification law 鈥� often referred to as Senate Bill 14 鈥� as discriminatory.
Ramos ordered Texas to educate voters about "the opportunity for voters who do not possess SB 14 ID and cannot reasonably obtain it to cast a regular ballot.鈥�
The Justice Department argues that Texas has recast the language of that order by limiting voting to those with photo IDs or those who 鈥渉ave not obtained鈥� and 鈥渃annot obtain鈥� such identification.
The key difference, the filing states, is that Texas has stripped the word 鈥渞easonably."
鈥淭hat standard is incorrect and far harsher than the Court-ordered standard it would displace,鈥� the Justices Department argues. 鈥淏y recasting the Court鈥檚 language, Texas has narrowed dramatically the scope of voters protected by the Court鈥檚 Order.鈥�
Texas refuses to change the language, the filing states, and the state officials believe they are following the court order.
Marc Rylander, a spokesman for Texas Attorney General , said his office is "currently reviewing the DOJ鈥檚 motion and will file a response by Friday.鈥�
Under Gonzales鈥� order, voters without ID this November can sign an affidavit certifying they are U.S. citizens and present proof of residence, such as a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck. Texas must provide these affidavits in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.
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