TEXAS REDISTRICTING & ELECTION LAW

On the eve of trial, Tim Eaton of the Austin-American Statesman reports on how Texas’ photo ID law, if approved, could affect Latinos.

More coverage of the start of trial from the Houston Chronicle.

And a preview from the ThinkProgress blog.

Enrique Rangel of the Amarillo Globe-News says the racial divide evident in last year’s session of the Texas Legislature will be on full display again at the photo ID trial.

Meanwhile in South Carolina, AP reports that trial on preclearance of that state’s photo ID law looks unlikely to be wrapped up in time for that state’s law to be put in effect for the November 2012 election.

Next week also brings U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to Texas to give a speech on protecting the right to vote at the NAACP’s annual convention in Houston.  The Houston Chronicle reports.

And from Las Vegas, coverage from CNN of Attorney General Holder’s speech on voting rights there this weekend at the annual La Raza convention.

And, last but not least, Reuters reports on how the litigation brought by Texas fits into a broader national debate about the future of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, while the Birmingham News has an update on Shelby County’s challenge to the constitutionality of section 5.

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UPDATE:

The UK’s Guardian also has coverage of the trial. 

UPDATE-2

NAACP board chair Roslyn Brock tells convention goers that voting rights are under the biggest assault since passage of the Voting Rights Act 47 years ago.  The Houston Chronicle reports.

Bloomberg/Businessweek also has a preview of the case here.