Federal Court Stays Injuction That Blocked Restrictive Voter Registrar Laws

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 on Thursday to stay an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Gregg Costa early last month that blocked enforcement of parts of Texas' new deputy voter registrar laws.

Judge Costa in Galveston had blocked the state from enforcing the new laws rules until their legality can be determined in a court hearing scheduled for next month. But yesterday's 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling allows Texas to enforce new deputy voter registrar laws passed by the 2011 Texas Legislature. Those laws limit who can hand out voter registration cards and who can collect completed registration forms:

1. No one can work in voter registration drives who doesn’t live in Texas;
   
2. No one can work outside any one particular county;
   
3. Payment to registration drive workers must be an hourly wage and compensation cannot be based on the worker’s productivity;
   
4. No completed voter registration forms can be photocopied by the registration drive workers or the registration drive organization; and
   
5. All completed voter registrations must be delivered to county elections officials in person by the deputy registrar.
   

Texas Volunteer Deputy Registrar Guide on the Texas Secretary of State website.

The last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 General Election is Tuesday October 9, 2012.

If you have not already received your new yellow 2012-13 voter registration card, you may not be registered to vote in the county where you currently reside.

You should immediately check your registration status and take action to properly register, if you find you are not registered to vote in the county where you reside.

To check your Collin Co. registration status - click here. To check your registration status in another Texas county - click here. If you find you are not registered to vote, you can find the Voter's Registration application by clicking here.

More details available at Your 2012 Collin Co. Voter Registration Card.

Early voting for the Nov. 6, 2012 General Election will run from Monday, Oct 22, 2012 to Friday, Nov 2, 2012 at your usual county early polling locations.

2012 Democratic National Convention On Wednesday

President Bill Clinton at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Elizabeth Warren at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Cecile Richards at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Sandra Fluke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Notes From The Democratic National Convention, Tuesday

By Inga VanWagoner, Democratic National Convention Delegate from SD8 ~ pictures by Cindi Koehn, Democratic National Convention Volunteer & SD30 Committeewoman

By Monday September 3rd the Texas Delegation had arrived in arrived Charlotte North Carolina! Despite some travel delays and occasional rain showers courtesy of Hurricane Isaac, we received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the DNC volunteers. Shortly after landing, we were settled on buses and en route to the Texas Delegation host hotel, Great Wolf Lodge.

Charlotte is on full display this week with art, banners and billboards touting the DNC.

There is a palpable energy in the city as the festivities get underway. This evening's activity for Texas delegates included a welcome reception at the Discovery Place, an interactive science museum noted as one of the nation's best.

Other welcome events were held across the city at 12 notable Charlotte venues including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where Mayor Anthony Foxx addressed delegates and guests.

Special thanks to Democratic National Committeeman Glen Maxey for diligently posting schedules and updates for us!

Monday morning, your SD8 delegates were up early, checking in to sign our daily credentials and selecting caucuses to attend. Then came uplifting and stirring speeches were delivered by Rev. Jesse Jackson in the African American caucus and Christine Pelosi in the Veterans and Military Families caucus.

We had numerous opportunities to hear from our dynamic DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. I personally was able to meet the oldest delegate in attendance, Mr. Steven Sherman, a decorated disabled WWI veteran, age 91.

A conference call was held for all national delegates, nearly 6,000 in total, more delegates than any national convention in history. Our topic of conversation--answering the question "are we better off today than we were four years ago." Our reply--a resounding "YES!"

Monday evening wrapped with a Texas delegation beach themed party in our host hotel and excited conversations about the convention's call to order.

TDP Chairman Gilberto Hinajosa spoke at Tuesday's delegation breakfast as we prepared to sign our names--one by one--to nominate President Obama to four more years!

The Women's Caucus was an impressive and inspiring collection of voices for the continued advancement of women. Actress Ashley Judd and correspondent Donna Brazille rallied us on after a special recognition of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

The afternoon led up to the gavel in by DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz and it began......a evening of spirited, memorable speakers.

Cheers erupted time and time again at the remarks of Mayor Corey Booker of New Jersey, Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth and our own San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Cheers from our Texas delegation brought Castro's speeches to a pause, as did chants of "USA" and "Four More Years."

The perfect ending to the night was the shining moment of First Lady Michelle Obama. Her emotionally stirring words of family, faith and the foundation she and President Obama built for their own family.

The adoration and respect of Mrs. Obama was never more evident as she waited for the applause and chants of "We love Michelle," to settle. Mrs. Obama led the charge to work these next 7 weeks to work for the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Tuesday evening, the mass of delegates filtered out of Time Warner Arena reveling in the high points of the night's message of "Moving Forward, Not Back."

After stopping at the MSNBC outdoor broadcast to gear DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz review the evening, we, the Texas delegates were gathered again at Whiskey River Restaurant and rehashed our favorite sound bites of the night before turning in for the night.

2012 Democratic National Convention On Tuesday

First Lady Michelle Obama's Remarks
2012 Democratic National Convention

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Mayor Julián Castro's Keynote Address
2012 Democratic National Convention