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Lawsuit filed against Texas law that opponents say hurts voters on college campuses, in rural counties

The Texas Legislature passed a law that effectively bans mobile polling sites all over the state.

AUSTIN, Texas — A lawsuit filed Nov. 26 aims to invalidate a new Texas law that effectively bans temporary polling places in the state.

KVUE reported in October, during early voting, that the Texas Legislature had passed a bill that effectively shut down mobile polling sites all over the state. 

The bill's author, Republican Rep. Greg Bonnen, said he was trying to stop "the possibility that some authorities accommodate certain voting populations to the exclusion of others," mainly in reference to school bonds. According to the new law, a polling site can only operate if it stays open all 12 days of early voting. 

The consequence of that law is many college campuses and smaller, more rural communities that rely on mobile polling sites for early voting no longer have access. 

RELATED: 

Texas Democrats file suit over ban on 'mobile' voting sites

New Texas law hurts voters on college campuses, rural counties

In the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Terrell Blodgett, the Texas Young Democrats and the Texas College Democrats said the 86th Texas Legislature "ended this vital and beneficial program" in its 2019 regular session through House Bill 1888.

The lawsuit seeks to invalidate HB 1888 on federal statutory and constitutional grounds ahead of the March 2020 primary election in Texas.

Blodgett, one of the plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit, is a 96-year-old disabled man who lives at a senior living facility in Austin. He is one of the people the lawsuit said temporary polling places assists during voting periods in Texas. 

The temporary polling places are meant to help "eligible, registered voters who faced hurdles to actually cast their votes due to mobility and transportation limitations and hurdles," the lawsuit stated. Temporary polling places particularly benefited elderly voters and young voters attending college who lack reliable transportation, according to the lawsuit.

This lawsuit comes after the Texas Democratic Party, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced on Oct. 30 that they filed a lawsuit over the statewide ban on “mobile” early voting sites. 

WATCH: New Texas state law bans mobile polling sites

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