Unless a federal judge intervenes, the South Texas city of Edinburg could be the first to enforce a new voter ID law.
But experts said Friday that civil rights lawyers will likely use the special election to gather evidence to strengthen their lawsuits to block it in the future.
The Justice Department and several civil rights groups want to block the requirement that voters produce a state-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. But no one has asked for a restraining order to stop enforcement of the law when early voting begins Wednesday in Edinburg.
Mexican American Legislative Caucus attorney Jose Garza said the burden is on civil rights groups to gather evidence that the law disproportionately prevents minorities from voting. He says his team will be watching in Edinburg.
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