Judge blocks enforcement of Texas voter ID law for Nov. elections

Midterm elections are less than a month away, and Texas is still in a fight over its voter ID law.

A federal judge blocked the controversial law in a ruling Thursday. So as it stands right now, voters in the state of Texas will no longer be required to show one of seven forms of ID previously required.

"There is some hope at the end of the tunnel," says Claudia Ortega-Hogue with NALEO Educational Fund.

Ortega-Hogue says the federal judge's decision to block the Texas Voter ID law is a win for minorities.

"Any laws that are happening right now, we want to make sure it's protecting the voters. And we are happy to see there are things that will protect our voters at the polls," she tells us.

Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, compared the requirement that voters have one of seven types of photo ID in order to vote to a poll tax.

"This is an example, I think, of the Democrats really desperate to win an election, stealing it any way they can," explains Harris County Republican Party Chairman Paul Simpson.

Simpson says the voter ID law is common sense because just about everything we do requires a photo ID.

"It's been a lot of efforts made to make sure everyone has their id and can comply with this law. So if you have the ability to show you're a citizen to register to vote, you should be able to have the id to show you can vote," he says.

Both Simpson and Ortega-Hogue, along with Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart worry about possible confusion.

"I think because we're getting close to the election, it's disruptive," Stanart says.

Mail in voting has already started, and early voting starts in less than two weeks.

"Regardless of what happens, if you will bring your photo id you will be the least hassle. You'll have it right," says Stanart. "They can still get the election ID. Right now they can get a free election id from DPS if they don't have a photo ID."

Attorney General Greg Abbott is appealing the ruling in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.