Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Texas attorney general vows appeal of voter ID law ruling

Details

  • Description

    Greg Abbott sounds off

  • Duration 4:56
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest News

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Controversy over the issue of voter ID laws in America.

And this involves a battle that's -- in Texas and it could wind up with the highest court in the land there's a law.

Requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls and it was unanimously struck down yesterday by a federal panel of judges but.

The State's top law enforcer says he is vowing to appeal this he believes that a win before the Supreme Court is almost guaranteed.

So here now the man making that claim is Texas attorney general Greg -- that -- more good afternoon mr.

rabbit.

Great to be with you thanks thanks for being here what did you think when you heard that this federal panel of judges struck down the law requiring.

Photo ID.

Well we were very disappointed because it was just four years ago that the United States Supreme Court issued a decision.

Saying that voter ID laws were perfectly constitutional.

That upheld an Indiana law that required voters to show a photo ID when they go about.

Texas passed a law that was premised on that already valid Indiana law.

And also premised upon a Georgia law that was pre cleared by the United States Department of Justice so now we have a divide in the United States of America.

We have one settle laws that are five for Indiana we have another -- laws of this court says or not conference that a Texas we live under one United States under one constitution.

And Texas deserves the same constitutional -- some principles in guarantees.

That are provided to Indiana.

Net now I mean of course mr.

-- you know the wrap up from critics of these laws.

They say that -- disenfranchise.

Poor voters let me read you a portion.

Of what the -- is set in their decision which they sounded as though they agreed with that criticism they said bought 200 to 250 mile trip.

To and from a department of public safety office.

Would be a heavy burden for any prospective voters such a journey would be especially daunting for the working poor do they have a point.

Two reasons why that is wrong first.

He does say Supreme Court addressed that issue in his opinion for years ago and is said and this is a virtual quote.

That -- to go through the time and trouble.

Of gathering together all -- all your documentation.

Traveled down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and pose for a picture is simply.

Not an infringement on the right to vote the second thing -- -- look at the facts.

And the two states that have had the voter ID laws in place for the longest period of time Indiana and Georgia.

Voter participation by minorities actually increased.

Not decreased so the claims of voter disenfranchisement.

Have proven to be.

False and yet one of the other points of the judges made in their decision.

They said that having to go.

Obtain a photo ID many poor voters don't have a driver's license so having to go to the department of public safety and obtain some sort of photo ID they said they would have to in some cases verified their identity in order to get one.

And it that could in some cases cost 22 dollars to pay for a certified copy.

Of their birth certificate wouldn't that eliminate some voters eligible voters from the polls.

Not at all because first of all generally speaking Texas is going to be providing.

These voter IDs for free but secondly importantly again this law was -- on the Indiana law upheld by the Supreme Court.

A similar provision applied in Indiana for those who had no other way of coming up with a of notoriety.

They hadn't come up with a birth certificate that cost them nine dollars four years ago and Texas the cost twenty dollars so is this -- really saying.

That the difference between -- law this constitutional ban unconstitutional.

Is thirteen dollars.

I don't think that's what the constitution -- So as we've reported the next stop for you it sounds like is the Supreme Court what makes you so confident that they would side -- -- -- We are -- this directly to the United States Supreme Court we feel confident that if the court.

Applies the precedent that established four years ago to our case.

Our case in our voter ID law in Texas should be upheld just like the law in Indiana.

NYU recently did a study estimating that 3.2 million eligible voters do not have a state issued photo ID are you confident today.

Bit that none of those people who want to vote would be turned away.

Right they're very important because some people put out that study I think that was by the Brennan senator.

That study has been shown to be statistically flawed and also importantly it's my understanding that study you're -- there was.

Paid for in part by George Soros who is antagonistic to cleaning up the voter rolls here in the United States of America so that's been completely discredited.

The evidence showed the people in this state the state of Texas of people across the country that are required to show a photo ID to vote.

Are not going to be disenfranchised.

Mr.

attorney general Greg Abbott thanks so much for joining us and explaining your perspective on all of this.

Thank you.

Load More