A federal appeals court has reinstated significant provisions of Texas' 2021 Senate Bill 1, which govern mail-in voting and voter assistance. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's decision that had blocked nine parts of the law, marking a victory for the state in a legal battle that has spanned approximately five years.
In its ruling, the appeals court stated that the "bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims fail for lack of standing" and rejected another challenge outright. Judge Andrew Oldham, writing for the court, noted that the state legislature's efforts to "prevent voter fraud and to protect election integrity" should not be interfered with. The court has previously reversed the district court on all aspects of this case during the litigation.
The restored rules require voters using mail-in ballots to provide an identification number or Social Security number on their applications, which must then match state records. The law also establishes a process for voters to correct defective ballots and mandates that voters and anyone assisting them sign an oath affirming no coercion occurred.
A district judge had initially blocked these rules in March 2025, following lawsuits that argued the requirements created accessibility issues for some voters with disabilities and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Texas law permits mail-in voting for individuals aged 65 or older and those with disabilities.
The appeals court's decision noted a decrease in rejected mail-in ballot applications or ballots due to identification number errors, falling from 11% to 2.7% after the law went into effect.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated the ruling as a "major victory." The lawsuit challenged Senate Bill 1, which was passed in 2021 amid significant debate over election rules, with provisions targeting voting practices implemented by Harris County during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers, civil rights organizations, and voting advocacy groups, including a temporary quorum break by Texas House Democrats in an unsuccessful effort to block its passage.