| We all know that the real intent of the Republicans' voter suppression legislation, strict requirements for a photo ID in order to vote, are intended to disenfranchise groups that tend to vote Democratic, especially Hispanics, African-Americans, young voters, students. After all, if the demographics suggest the state will turn blue within the decade, why not just throw up massive procedural hurdles to likely-Democratic voter participation?
One of the worst offenders on this issue is Aaron Pena, R-Himself, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party before this past Legislative session. Pena voted for the strict Photo ID requirements to vote, thus disenfranchising a sizable percentage of his own constituents.
According to the Secretary of State, more than 600,000 registered voters in Texas don't have a Texas driver's license or state-issued photo ID. In Hidalgo County, 22,769 - or 7.98% of total voters - lack this identification. Of these, 17,984 are Hispanic.
From a statement by the TDP, emphasis mine:
"Aaron Pena and his Republican colleagues are using every trick in the book to try and pre-determine the outcome of elections," said Boyd Richie, Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. "Pena voted for legislation that could disenfranchise more than 22,000 Hidalgo County voters. He knows he has a better chance at winning if less people vote."
In 2009 when Aaron Pena sat on the Elections Committee as a Democrat, he voted against the Republican voter suppression legislation. It was only after joining the Republican Party that he embraced proposals to disenfranchise voters.
"As Chairman of the Hispanic Republican Conference, Aaron Pena has taken the lead in disenfranchising Latinos," said Rebecca Acuña, spokeswoman for the Texas Democratic Party. "After a session of voting against the interests of Hispanics and his constituents, we understand why he's scared."
House District 40, which Aaron currently represents, has 204,340 Hispanics. The new House District 41, which Pena gerrymandered for himself, has 127,801 Hispanics, meaning that Aaron purged 76,539 Hispanics from his district.
The Department of Justice pointed to Pena's blatantly gerrymandered district when they objected to the Texas House Map as a Violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Aaron Pena literally voted for a law that will keep his constituents from voting him out of office. I guess that's the Republican way to do incumbent protection. I hope he totally bites the electoral dust, either in the Republican primary OR the general election. |
