A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Wednesday that Texas federal courts potentially have the authority to change the election policy allowing poll workers to forgo wearing facial coverings.
A Texas voting rights group originally brought the lawsuit against Governor Greg Abbott in July. The group argued that Texas’ election policies created the impossible choice between exercising the constitutional right to vote and protecting from COVID-19. The plaintiffs specifically cited a July 2 statewide mask mandate that exempted “any person who is voting, assisting a voter, serving as a poll watcher, or actively administering an election” from the requirement.
