Ruling that found part of Texas vote harvesting law unconstitutional temporarily blocked

Source: The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, TX)

October 5, 2024


The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday temporarily blocked a federal judge’s ruling that said part of a Texas law that enacted new voting restrictions was unconstitutional by being too vague and restricting free speech.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez’s ruling from Sept. 28 immediately halted the state’s ability to investigate alleged cases of vote harvesting, such as the investigation into the League of United Latin American Citizens by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton appealed that decision to the 5th Circuit Court, which granted a temporary stay until Oct. 10.

Before the Sept. 28 ruling, a person who knowingly provided or offered vote harvesting services in exchange for compensation was committing a third-degree felony. This meant that organizers of voter outreach organizations and even volunteers could spend up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $10,000 for giving or offering these services.

“Blocking our ability to investigate certain election crimes would have been a serious disruption to the electoral landscape with only a month left before Election Day,” Paxton said in a Friday statement. According to Republican lawmakers, the provision was put in place to prevent voter fraud and secure election integrity.

Read more: https://www.gilmermirror.com/2024/10/05/ruling-that-found-part-of-texas-vote-harvesting-law-unconstitutional-temporarily-blocked/