In a series of decisions that a dissenting judge argues unjustifiably narrows precedent case law on sovereign immunity, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out three challenges to Texas voting laws.

Right-to-vote advocates filed lawsuits in 2020 that challenged numerous newly enacted provisions to the Texas Election Code:

  • Requirement that voters pay for postage to mail a ballot
  • Requirement that mailed ballots be postmarked by 7 p.m. on election day and received by 5 p.m. on the day after election day
  • Requirement that a committee verify the voter's signature on the carrier envelope matches examples of the voter's signature on file with the county clerk or voter registrar
  • New criminal penalty for knowingly possessing another person's mail-in ballot or carrier envelope except in specified circumstances
  • Elimination of straight-ticket, or "straight-party" voting whereby the voter casts a single vote for all members of one party

The Texas Office of Attorney General represented the state.