DOJ finds Texas redistricting plan purposefully discriminatory against Hispanic voters

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Department of Justice (DOJ) made the same objection to Arizona's redistricting plan a decade ago in 2001. This is why it is so important for you to stand up to the Tea-Publican intimidation of the current Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) in an attempt to maintain the unfairness of noncompetitive districts and "packing" as many minority voters into the fewest VRA districts as possible.

The Justice Department said late Friday that based on their preliminary investigation, a congressional redistricting map signed into law by Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry appears to have been "adopted, at least in part, for the purpose of diminishing the ability of citizens of the United States, on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, to elect their preferred candidates of choice to Congress." DOJ: Rick Perry's Texas Redistricting Plan Purposefully Discriminated Against Minorities | TPMMuckraker:

DOJ's Civil Rights Division is specifically contesting the changes made to Texas Districts 23 and 27, which they say would not provide Hispanic citizens with the ability to elect candidates of their choice.

They say they need more information on the congressional plan to determine what the purpose of the redistricting plan was for sure. But the federal agency came out stronger against the state House of Representatives plan, which they flat out said "violates Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in that it was adopted, at least in part, for the purpose of diminishing the ability of citizens of the United States, on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, to elect their preferred candidates of choice to the Texas House of Representatives."

DOJ said that no matter the purpose of the congressional plan, it would have a discriminatory effect on voters.

"When compared to the existing plan, the proposed Congressional plan will have a retrogressive effect in that it will diminish the ability of citizens of the United States, on account of race, color or membership in a language minority group, to elect their preferred candidates of choice to the United States House of Representatives," the Justice Department said in a filing.

The filing is embedded below.

Texas v. USA – Sept. 23 2011

In addition, DOJ Has More Questions On Rick Perry's Voter ID Law | TPMMuckraker:

Federal officials also want a detailed description of when and where the state will make free identification certificates available, as well as specifics on how they will educate the public about when such certificates will be available.

Texas officials said that 605,576 residents do not have a Texas drivers license or photo ID card. DOJ wants to know how many of those residents without IDs have Spanish surnames.

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In paperwork to the Justice Department asking for preclearance, Texas officials cited the controversial approval of Georgia's voter ID law.

A coalition of state and national voter ID and civil rights groups had asked the Justice Department not to preclear the law earlier this month, writing that it was unnecessary, unfair, restrictive and intentionally discriminates against African-American and Latino voters.

Texas has to get back to DOJ within 60 days.

I do not recall any testimony before the AIRC about how many Arizonans do not have a state issued drivers license or photo ID, or other acceptable form of identification to vote at the polls (it is not necessary to vote early by mail). If your voting rights organization has this data, it is time for you to testify and to submit this information into the record. It is relevant to the issue of voter performance/turnout. It should be part of the record for DOJ Preclearance.