Updated: 7:01 PM States can't require voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before they can use a federal voter registration system designed to make it easier to sign up.
That ruling comes today from the Supreme Court. It involves a requirement that was approved by Arizona voters. But four other states -- Alabama, Georgia, Kansas and Tennessee -- have similar requirements. And 12 other states are considering that type of legislation.
By a vote of 7-2, the justices rejected the law forcing Arizona voters to document their citizenship in order to use the registration form produced under the federal "Motor Voter" law.
An official with a Mexican-American advocacy group says the ruling means that states can't impose "burdensome paperwork requirements" on top of what federal law requires in order to vote.
Arizona officials, though, have argued that they should be able to pass laws to stop illegal immigrants and other non-citizens from getting on their voting rolls.
And Justice Clarence Thomas, writing the dissenting opinion, said states are allowed to determine the qualifications of voters in federal elections, which means they can determine whether voters meet those qualifications.
Updated: 9:17 AM Actors Bradley Cooper and Glenn Close are among those gathering Monday at the White House for a conference on mental health, organized as part of President Barack Obama's response to last year's shooting massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.
Updated: 11:05 AM Residents of rural communities in the Brazos Valley are heading to the polls Saturday to elect city and school officials and decide bond issues.
Posted: 2:01 PM Congressman William H. “Bill” Flores, a 1976 Texas A&M graduate who has a long history of support for and service to his alma mater, including a term as chairman of the board of The Association of Former Students, will be Texas A&M’s spring commencement convocation speaker, announced University President R. Bowen Loftin.
Posted: 12:22 AM House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature's lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills.
Updated: 9:59 AM After each redistricting election, Texas Senators draw lots to determine who will serve two- or four-year terms, since half of the Senate is elected every two years.
Posted: 12:49 AM Republicans have lost their 102-member supermajority in the Texas House, opening the door for Democrats to slow or block the majority's conservative agenda.
Updated: 12:13 AM A new, largely rural district in the Texas House of Representatives that includes part of Brazos and all of Robertson County will be represented by an area rancher.
Updated: 7:50 AM WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama rolled to re-election Tuesday night, vanquishing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney despite a weak economy that plagued his first term and put a crimp in the middle class dreams of millions. In victory, he confidently promised better days ahead.
Updated: 5:40 PM The Libertarian party appears on ballots across the country, and while, by their own admission, its candidates are unlikely to pick up too many seats, they're still looking for recognition on major issues.
Updated: 10:17 AM Candidates for Bryan's city council and school board will meet Monday in a forum hosted by the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce.
