A Texas judge appointed by President Donald Trump launched an “unusual and extraordinary” attack on elections, according to a new report.
Democracy Docket reported on Wednesday that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a ruling that blocked key parts of Texas’ voter suppression law. The ruling protects provisions that were previously found to violate federal protections for voters with disabilities.
“It has long been established that mail-in ballots are prone to fraud,” Judge Andrew Oldham wrote in a decision that Democracy Docket described as an “unusual and extraordinary attack” on mail-in voting loaded with unsupported claims. “That is why voting by mail jeopardizes election integrity and democracy itself.”
Democracy Docket noted that fraud involving mail-in ballots is “exceedingly rare,” and research has not found evidence that it produces widespread voter fraud.
The appeals court reversed the lower court’s decision in full. The ruling is considered a win for anti-voting Texas Republicans in their fight over Senate Bill 1, according to Democracy Docket. Oldham wrote that the Fifth Circuit has been “playing an exhausting game of Whac-A-Mole to correct the district court’s mishandling of this case.”
The ruling affects restrictions on mail-in voting and voter assistance, including rules requiring some voters to provide an identification number that matches state records, requirements for people who help voters cast ballots, and limits on paid voter assistance and canvassing.
“The bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims fail for lack of standing,” Oldham wrote about arguments made by voting rights and civil rights groups. “One fails on the merits. But none justifies interference with the State Legislature’s efforts to prevent voter fraud and to protect election integrity.”
A federal district court blocked nine provisions of SB 1 in March 2025. It found that the bill violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Oldham cited a 2014 federal district court opinion stating that mail-in ballots are “not secure,” according to Democracy Docket.
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