Filed Date: Sept. 7, 2021
Closed Date: Sept. 30, 2021
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case concerns a challenge to Senate Bill 1, which amended the Texas Election Code and introduced new voting policies, on the grounds that the amendments would disproportionately affect the right to vote for people of color and disabled citizens in the state. On September 7, 2021, three nonpartisan non-profit organizations and a Travis County election judge brought suit in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. The suit was brought against several individuals who collectively oversee election administration in Texas: the Governor of Texas, the Deputy Secretary of State of Texas, the Attorney General of Texas, and the Elections Administrators of Bexar County and Harris County, Texas.
In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged that Texas had longstanding voting turnout issues among minority communities in the state and that, in response to higher black and Latino voter turnout in recent election cycles, the state had implemented Senate Bill 1 in September 2021, amending the Texas Election Code, which included provisions that eliminated or otherwise burdened methods of voting disproportionately used by people of color and citizens with disabilities. The challenged provisions of Senate Bill 1 included the elimination of drive-through voting centers, restricted voting hours, a prohibition vote-by-mail drop boxes, and the creation voter identification requirements on early voting ballot applications, among others. Plaintiffs alleged that these new provisions of the Texas Election Code collectively were intended to and in fact did disproportionately burden the right to vote held by black, Latino, and disabled citizens. Plaintiffs further set forth that this violated the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, §§2 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, plaintiffs sought to prevent defendants from further implementation or enforcement of these provisions of Senate Bill 1. The case was assigned to Judge Xavier Rodriguez.
Defendants filed a motion to consolidate, noting that three other lawsuits were filed in that district challenging Senate Bill 1: La Union del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, OCA-Greater Houston v. Esparza, and LULAC Texas v. Esparza. On September 30, 2021, the court granted defendants’ motion to consolidate, agreeing that the cases involved common questions of law and fact as to the legality and constitutionality of Senate Bill 1. All four cases were to be consolidated into La Union del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott. On the same day, the court concluded that this case was appropriate for administrative closure at the time, as any future developments would be filed under the consolidated La Union de Pueblo Entero matter.
Summary Authors
Keren Yi (2/23/2025)
OCA-Greater Houston v. Esparza, Western District of Texas (2021)
La Union Del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)
LULAC Texas v. Esparza, Western District of Texas (2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60365593/parties/houston-justice-v-gregory-wayne-abbott/
Rodriguez, Xavier (Texas)
Broughton, Kenneth E. (Texas)
Holmes, Jennifer A. (Texas)
Pippin, Keely Dulaney (Texas)
Sadasivan, Kathryn (Texas)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60365593/houston-justice-v-gregory-wayne-abbott/
Last updated March 8, 2026, 6:14 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 7, 2021
Closing Date: Sept. 30, 2021
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiffs are three nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations which operate in the state of Texas and a Travis County election judge.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
County
Elections Administrator
Elections Administrator
State
Attorney General of Texas
Deputy Secretary of State of Texas
Governor of Texas
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Western District of Texas 5:21-cv-00848
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Voting:
Voting: Physical/Effective Access
Case Summary of Houston Justice v. Gregory Wayne Abbott, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/44305/ (last updated 2/23/2025).