Voting rights activists press for weekend vote, online registration

In a timely decision issued Wednesday, a U.S. appeals court ruled that Texas's tough voter ID law, adopted in 2013, would effectively discriminate against minority voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling has only fueled the Democratic criticisms of similar laws around the country, while amplifying their calls to renew VRA protections shot down by the Supreme Court two years ago.

Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), who was the lead plaintiff in the Texas case, said the court "has taken the first steps towards ensuring that all Texans have unfettered access to the ballot box."