Filed Date: Sept. 27, 2021
Closed Date: Sept. 30, 2021
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a voter suppression case challenging 2021 Texas Senate Bill No. 1, 87th Legislature (“SB 1”) on the basis that the bill unconstitutionally placed undue burdens on voters, with the greatest burdens on Black and Latino voters.
On September 27, 2021, three registered Texas voters who intended to vote in the next election and Mi Familia Vota (a national, non-profit civic organization) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Plaintiffs sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Deputy Secretary of State Jose Esparza, and Texas Attorney General Warren “Ken” Paxton, each in their official capacities, under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988 for violations of their rights under the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, and Sections 2 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. §§ 10301 and 10508). Represented by private counsel and Free Speech for People (a non-profit non-partisan organization), plaintiffs sought declaratory relief; a preliminary and permanent injunction; costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney’s fees; the retention of jurisdiction to ensure compliance; and such other and further relief as the court deemed just and proper. They claimed that SB1 placed undue burdens on voters, citing provisions relating to voter purges based on citizenship, prohibitions on voting options, limited access to and disqualification of mail-in ballots, increased authority for poll watchers, requirements to those providing voter assistance, limiting employers’ need to grant time off to vote, and not allowing officials to make exceptions to election standards for natural disasters and other emergencies. The case was assigned to District Judge Xavier Rodriguez.
On September 30, 2021, before defendants filed any response, the court issued an order consolidating this lawsuit with two other lawsuits involving common questions of law and fact. The order required that all future filings be filed in La Unión del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, No. 5:21-cv-844 (W.D. Tex). In a separate order on that same date, the court directed the clerk to administratively close this case.
Summary Authors
Kelly Tsai (2/2/2024)
OCA-Greater Houston v. Esparza, Western District of Texas (2021)
La Union Del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60492291/parties/mi-familia-vota-v-abbott/
Rodriguez, Xavier (Texas)
Lyons, Clarence V. (Texas)
Lyons, Sean Michael (Texas)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60492291/mi-familia-vota-v-abbott/
Last updated Aug. 9, 2025, 10 p.m.
State / Territory: Texas
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 27, 2021
Closing Date: Sept. 30, 2021
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Three registered Texas voters who intended to vote in the next election and Mi Familia Vota (a national, non-profit civic organization)
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Unknown
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Voting: