AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's exemption of polling places from his statewide face covering order.
The ruling, by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam of San Antonio, says that the exemption violates the Voting Rights Act because of its discriminatory impact on Black and Latino voters.
"This discriminatory effect can be eliminated, or at least mitigated, if all people wear masks at polling sites," Pulliam wrote in his opinion.
The ruling comes in a case brought by the Texas chapter of the NAACP and Mi Familia Vota, who sued to attempt to force the state to adopt a number of additional safety requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Abbott's order, issued on July 2, established a statewide mandate for all Texans to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth while in public spaces, in all counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases. Included in the order were a number of exemptions, including "any person who is voting, assisting a voter, serving as a poll watcher, or actively administering an election," although the order says face coverings remain strongly encouraged.
The state is appealing the ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has blocked the injunction for the time being.
Early voting ends Friday, with Election Day on Tuesday.