Latest news with #JamesHo
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court sides with Texas on ID requirements for voting by mail
A federal appeals court has upheld Texas' requirement that potential voters must list their identification information in their application for a mail-in ballot. In Texas, voting by mail is only available for certain groups of people, including elderly voters and people with disabilities. Under Senate Bill 1 passed in 2021, voters must also include an ID number — such as a driver's license number — on both the vote-by-mail applications and the mail-in ballots and both numbers need to match. Opponents of the law said this provision discriminated against voters with disabilities and that it would not meaningfully cut down on voter fraud. In a Monday ruling, a panel from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the updated requirement does not violate federal law. It also reversed a lower court's decision. 'We have no difficulty concluding that this ID number requirement fully complies with a provision of federal law known by the parties as the materiality provision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,' wrote Judge James Ho, a Trump appointee. Judge Patrick Higginbotham and Judge Don Willett, who were appointed under the Reagan and Trump administrations, respectively, joined Ho's ruling. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded the ruling Tuesday. 'Voter ID is one of the most crucial tools in the battle against election fraud, and I'm pleased to see the court affirm our fundamental right to defend the integrity of our democratic process,' he said in a news release. Prior to this decision, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas had ruled in 2023 that the requirements infringed on the Civil Rights Act. Though later that year, Paxton's office was able to stop that decision from going into effect. These voter ID requirements were also the target of legal challenges from several civil rights groups, along with other provisions of SB 1. Groups that were part of this case — including the League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston and Rev Up Texas — didn't immediately respond to comment requests from The Texas Tribune Tuesday. A recent study from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School found that the state's requirements pushed many voters whose mail ballots or vote-by-mail applications were rejected during the 2022 primary to change their method — or not vote at all. Disclosure: League of Women Voters of Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 13–15. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump touts ruling upholding ID number check for Texas mail-in ballots
President Trump early Tuesday touted an appeals court ruling upholding Texas's requirement that voters to provide a driver's license or other identification number for their mail ballot to be counted. 'THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!! Should be Nationwide!!! President DJT' Trump wrote on Truth Social. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit unanimously ruled on Monday the requirement does not violate a provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevents states from denying a person's right to vote over paperwork errors that are not 'material.' 'The number-matching requirements are obviously designed to confirm that every mail-in voter is indeed who he claims he is. And that is plainly material to determining whether an individual is qualified to vote,' wrote U.S. Circuit Judge James Ho, rejecting the argument. Ho was joined on the panel by U.S. Circuit Judge Don Willett, both Trump appointees, and U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Higginbotham, an appointee of former President Reagan. In Texas, voters can vote by mail if they meet certain criteria, like being disabled or age 65 or older. The state's Republican-controlled Legislature passed the new check in 2021 as part of a broader election integrity bill, S.B. 1. It requires voters to provide a state identification number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their mail-in ballot application and ballot envelope. Clerks reject ballots that don't comply. The Biden administration and several civil rights groups filed lawsuits soon after the law's enactment. Texas and the Republican National Committee (RNC) appealed to the 5th Circuit after U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez Jr. blocked Texas from enforcing the requirement. An appointee of former President George W. Bush, Rodriguez ruled that the number-matching requirement violates the Civil Rights Act because it is not material to a voter's eligibility. The 5th Circuit's decision reverses that finding, ruling that the materiality provision only covers voter eligibility determinations and not mail-in ballots. 'The 2021 Act easily complies with the materiality provision in any event,' Ho wrote. In a statement, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley called the ruling a 'clear victory for secure elections.' 'Texas's commonsense safeguards for mail-in ballots are essential to protecting the integrity of every single ballot cast,' Whatley said. 'As long as Democrats and the left are fighting to overthrow the will of the American people who support these safeguards, the RNC will be there to meet them in court.' Updated 11:03 a.m. EDT. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Voter ID law in Texas wins at appeals court after Biden admin lawsuit
Texas scored a victory on Monday when a federal appeals court upheld a state law requiring voters using mail-in ballots to include a state ID number or partial Social Security number. A three-judge panel reversed a district court's decision, saying unanimously that the law did not violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as some critics claimed, because it is material to confirm voter eligibility, as required under the statute. Judge James Ho began the unanimous opinion with a blunt statement, "Mail-in ballots are not secure," citing Veasey v. Perry, which later became Veasey v. Abbott. The case, later known as Veasey v. Abbott on appeal, involved Texas's voter ID law and included findings confirmed by the Fifth Circuit that "mail-in ballot fraud is a significant threat." READ THE COURT RULING – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: "The ID number requirement is obviously designed to confirm that each mail-in ballot voter is precisely who he claims he is. And that is plainly 'material' to 'determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote,'" Judge James Ho wrote in the opinion. Ho and the other judges on the panel aligned with their colleagues on the Third Circuit, which held that "the materiality provision applies only to voter qualification determination." He said the Third Circuit's analysis was "persuasive." Additionally, Ho notes that while the plaintiffs argue that "there isn't enough evidence to show the ID number requirement would meaningfully reduce voter fraud," the state disagrees on the matter. "Our precedents compel us to side with Texas. We have made clear that states have a legitimate interest in combating voter fraud, and thus enjoy 'considerable discretion in deciding what is an adequate level of effectiveness to serve [their] important interests in voter integrity,'" Ho wrote in the opinion. The Fifth Circuit — the same court that ruled in favor of Texas — has allowed for the tightening of voter rules in the past. Recently, judges with the Fifth Circuit ruled that mail-in ballots must arrive by Election Day to be counted, Politico reported. Texas' Election Integrity Protection Act of 2021 was signed in September of that year, following the 2020 presidential election. At the time, several Republican states began cracking down on voter identification. Additionally, according to the Texas Tribune, the law limited local control of elections by prohibiting counties from offering expanded voting options. Fox News Digital has reached out to the office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Swinburne launches Graduate Diploma of Education to equip teachers for dynamic classrooms
(From fourth left) Sharifah Fariah, Swinburne Sarawak Business Development and Liaison director James Ho, and Wong are seen in a group photograph. KUCHING (July 11): As schools across Malaysia and the region face increasing challenges in recruiting qualified teachers, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is stepping forward with the launch of its Graduate Diploma of Education (GDE). The postgraduate programme is designed to prepare future-ready educators for today's dynamic classrooms. Swinburne Sarawak said in a statement that the one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) programme is open to degree holders from any discipline and blends design-thinking, educational innovation, and reflective practice to offer a transformative pathway into the teaching profession. The course also responds to Sarawak's development goals by addressing the growing demand for flexible, future-focused education pathways. In support of this initiative, representatives from Swinburne Sarawak recently initiated discussions with the at the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Higher Education Division head Sharifah Fariah Syed Junaidi. The ministry has expressed its support for the programme, acknowledging its relevance and potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in Sarawak and beyond. 'What sets this programme apart is its foundation in design thinking,' said Faculty of Business, Design and Arts dean Prof Dr Brian Wong. 'By embedding creative problem-solving into every aspect of the curriculum, we are preparing future teachers to think critically, lead innovatively and respond effectively to the complexities of today's classrooms.' The GDE is distinguished by its design-school DNA, where design-thinking is embedded across all units, encouraging students to become adaptive and creative problem-solvers. With a carousel structure comprising four 10-week terms per year and multiple intake points (March, May, August, and October), the programme offers the flexibility to study full-time or part-time. Learning is delivered in multimodal format—face-to-face, live online, and asynchronously—allowing learners to manage their learning according to individual needs. A key feature of the programme is the mentor-rich practicum, which provides hands-on experience in schools alongside a campus-based micro practicum, ensuring learners engage with real-world teaching from the outset. Reflective practice is embedded throughout the programme via a structured journal, fostering continuous personal and professional development. Learners can also tailor their experience through elective specialisations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), English, or Assessment, aligning with current educational demands. Graduates will be prepared for diverse career paths including primary and secondary school teaching, curriculum development, instructional design, education consulting, e-learning content creation, and roles such as inclusion specialist, learning support professional, or teacher educator. The first intake is scheduled for October, with ongoing intakes offered in March, May, August and October each year. Applications are now open. For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit or its social media pages.
Wall Street Journal
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Be Wary of Judicial Umpires
James Taranto notes that Judge James C. Ho is skeptical that judges merely 'call balls and strikes' ('The Case of District Judges vs. Trump,' Weekend Interview, May 10). Actual umpires, 'worried about the booing of the crowd,' are responsible for providing a 'home-field advantage.' In legal contests, a similar dynamic applies, with the crowd being composed of 'cultural elites' whose favor jurists seek. Chief Justice John Roberts used the baseball analogy in his 2005 confirmation hearings. The trouble is that umpires define the strike zone, which they can change from inning to inning, or even from batter to batter, and there's no review. That was a pitch the senators on the committee never saw coming. Nathan I. Silver Bethesda, Md.
