Supreme Court Turns Down Texas Democrats’ Request To Allow Mail-In Ballots For All Voters

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request by Texas Democrats to expand mail-in voting to all the voters in Texas amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas reported almost 6,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the record-breaking number for a single day.

Democrats in the state have been arguing that the voters shouldn’t have to choose between risking their health and their right to vote.

“We are disappointed that the Supreme Court did not weigh in now and provide needed relief and clarity for voters ahead of the primary runoff,” Chair of Texas Democratic Party Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement. “The case proceeds on in other filings before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit and therefore, hope remains that the federal courts will restore equal voting rights in time for the November elections.”

Meanwhile, the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, praised the court’s order.

“I applaud the Supreme Court for following the law and refusing to order mail-in balloting that the Texas Legislature has forbidden. Universal mail-in ballots, which are notoriously vulnerable to fraud, would only lead to greater election fraud and disenfranchise lawful voters,” Paxton said. “State election officials have many options available to safely and securely hold elections without risking widespread fraud. My office will continue to fight for safe, free and fair elections.”

Article by Dongyoon Shin