A U.S. Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a Texas law requiring voters to present identification when applying for mail-in ballots—a decision that Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) claims hurt her party in the 2024 election. Crockett, speaking on MSNBC, criticized the ruling and said the voter ID requirements led to a drop in Democratic turnout across Texas.

Crockett blamed Republican lawmakers for passing the law, SB1, “in the dark,” accusing them of imposing voter restrictions that disproportionately impacted Democratic voters. She specifically noted that many mail-in ballots were invalidated under the new rules, potentially altering outcomes in closely contested races.

SB1, enacted in 2021, mandates that voters include their name and home address on mail-in ballot applications—information that is publicly accessible. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that these provisions do not violate federal voting laws, concluding that the requirements are legitimate measures to confirm voter identity.

Judge James Ho, a Trump appointee, wrote the court’s opinion and asserted the number-matching requirements are critical for ensuring voter authenticity. He was joined by Judges Don Willett, also a Trump appointee, and Patrick Higginbotham, appointed by President Reagan. The court found no legal barriers in the law that would make it unconstitutional.

Ho further argued that because name and address information is easily accessible, anyone could attempt to vote fraudulently without these safeguards. Therefore, requiring voters to verify this information when requesting a mail-in ballot is a reasonable protection.

The ruling is seen as a win for Republicans, especially as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to push for the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. While the bill passed the House, it has stalled in the Senate, facing resistance from moderate Republicans like Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).