Appeals Court Upholds Key Sections of Texas Voter Suppression Law

The 5th Circuit Friday upheld sections of a Texas voter suppression law, reversing a district court’s decision that found the provisions violated Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. 

Multiple voting and civil rights organizations, Texas election officials and individual voters have challenged provisions of the state’s controversial 2021 election law, Senate Bill 1, winning district court cases in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The latest 5th Circuit ruling concerns provisions regulating how people can assist voters in casting ballots. The court found none of the pro-voting plaintiff organizations had standing to challenge some provisions. 

The 5th Circuit upheld disclosure provisions that require people assisting voters to disclose personal information, including their name, address, relationship to the voter and whether they received compensation. 

The court also upheld the amended oath provision, which requires people to swear under penalty of perjury that they did not pressure the voter, that the voter was eligible for assistance and that they will not influence the vote.

Additionally, the court found compensation provisions – banning payment for assisting voters with mail-in ballots and banning compensated “vote harvesting” activities – are not preempted by Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. The 5th Circuit ruled the law does not prohibit states from restricting who may assist voters if they’re paid.

However, a district court found that these provisions also violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Republicans have appealed that ruling but these  remain blocked under the ADA as litigation continues.