Jim Wright, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Represenatives, has become the latest high-profile victim of Texas’ new voter ID law. The Texas Democrat, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for over three decades, ran into a hurdle with the new law.
The former House speaker, who has voted in every election since 1944, did not have the proper identification to get a Texas Election Identification certificate. He presented a TCU faculty ID card and a Texas driver’s license that had expired. Wright is 90 years old.
Election officials have assured Wright that if he provides a birth certificate and two forms of ID that he will still be able to cast a vote. Of course, as a high profile ex-politician he can probably expect that the state would make sure he is able to vote to avoid embarrassment, but will the same courtesy be extended to a single mother, a senior in a nursing home, or a college student who lacks political clout?
The Texas Voter ID law continues to put up hurdles to legitimate voters. Ironically, Jim Wright spent much of his legislative career trying to ease voting restrictions. He voted for abolishing poll taxes, and for lowering the voting age to eighteen. Unfortunately, the state of Texas has shown a lack of gratitude to Mr. Wright by trying to make it harder for him to vote.
Edited by SS
