Texas Democratic Party: Moving Texas Forward

(Austin, TX) – Today, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), State Rep. Joe Farias (D-San Antonio) and Charlie Jones of Texas Democratic Veterans hosted a press conference at VFW Post #76 in San Antonio to discuss the Texas Secretary of State’s interpretation of the GOP-backed voter ID bill (SB 14) to bar the VA card as an acceptable form of military ID. At last week’s Secretary of State’s Election Law Seminar, participants learned of the SOS office’s interpretation of SB 14 that a VA card does not constitute a “military ID” for the purposes of voting (TDP has an audio file and transcribed excerpt of this explanation, available upon request).

“There is no issue more sacred to me than protecting every Texans’ right to vote.  I am deeply disappointed to learn that the implementation of the Republican’s voter suppression law will not only have disparaging effects on our elderly, minorities, and people with disabilities, but now will ultimately discriminate against our Veterans.  It is disturbing to me that this ‘emergency item’ will potentially disenfranchise those who have valiantly served our country with dignity and respect,” said Senator Leticia Van de Putte.

“I want to emphasize that I am dedicated to protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process. The problem is that the implementation of this Republican Voter ID program may have unintended consequences, like disenfranchising those who have sacrificed so much for our country – such as wounded veterans or veterans who suffer from service-connected disabilities.  I am also very concerned about veterans who have voted 50-plus years without being required to show a photo ID.  This will create more obstacles to getting to the polls for those who have served our nation with honor,” said Rep. Joe Farias.

“They had no problems sending us overseas but now they have problems when we come home and want to vote. To Rick Perry, this discriminatory voter ID bill was an “emergency item”. For some of my fellow veterans, especially older vets, Rick Perry’s political “emergency” could mean they won’t be able to vote next year,” said Charlie Jones.

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