The Supreme Court of the United States has rejected a legal challenge to a Texas law mandating voters under 65 to provide a reason for voting by mail. This decision signifies the failure of Democratic efforts to broaden mail-in voting without requiring an excuse in Texas, and it could have repercussions for similar efforts in other states.
Based on the order list released on April 22, the Supreme Court refused to consider a petition for a writ of certiorari in a case originating from a federal lawsuit filed in 2020 by the Texas Democratic Party and multiple voters. The lawsuit sought to challenge Texas’ restrictions on no-excuse mail-in voting based on age.
In Texas, only individuals aged 65 or older can vote by mail without needing a specific reason, such as illness. The petitioners initially claimed in their lawsuit, which traversed various lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court, that Texas’ voting law infringes upon the 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This amendment bars the denial of voting rights based on age.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to review the appeal means that the Texas law remains unchanged, marking a victory for proponents of election integrity. They contend that allowing no-excuse mail-in voting increases the risk of fraud and undermines election security.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant certiorari is a setback for organizations that view laws similar to Texas’s age-based restrictions on no-excuse mail-in ballots as instances of “voter suppression.” They see these laws as unfair efforts to create obstacles to voting, particularly for younger voters.
The Supreme Court’s choice not to entertain the appeal holds broader significance, given that six other states—Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee—have comparable laws allowing older voters to request absentee ballots without needing to give any reason.
According to certain polls, public opinion in Texas regarding the matter of no-excuse mail-in voting is divided.
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