Federal judges in Georgia and Texas have ruled against key provisions of two controversial election laws passed two years ago as the Republican Party sought to tighten voting rules after former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential contest.

Judge J.P. Boulee of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Courtesy photo Judge J.P. Boulee of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Courtesy photo

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez struck down a provision of Texas’ law (Senate Bill 1) requiring that mail voters provide the same identification number they used when they registered to vote. He ruled the requirement violated the U.S. Civil Rights Act because it led to people being unable to cast ballots due to a matter irrelevant to whether they are registered.