Texas to loosen voter ID rules for November elections

AUSTIN, TX -- Texas has agreed to weaken its voter ID law as federal courts across the U.S. block states from using Republican-imposed election restrictions in November.

The agreement between the state and voting rights advocates Wednesday comes after a federal appeals court ruled that Texas' strict voter ID law passed in 2011 discriminates against minorities and the poor.

Opponents say more than 600,000 voters lacked a suitable ID under the law. Texas is now willing to let those voters sign an affidavit and cast a ballot. The state will also spend at least $2.5 million on voter outreach.

A federal judge must still approve the changes.

Voting restrictions in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas and North Dakota have also been blocked in recent weeks.