Court will not hear voting machine case

AUSTIN (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive the Texas Democratic Party lawsuit over electronic voting. Justices declined without comment to hear the party's lawsuit after lower federal courts rejected the Democrats' arguments. The party contends that eSlate voting machines used in 100 of the state's 254 counties do not properly record straight-party votes.

Party attorneys argued the machines are prone to undercounting general election votes if someone casts a straight-ticket ballot but then marks an individual candidate's name. The attorneys argued that creates a constitutional voting rights violation.

The Texas Secretary of State 's Office has said that if a voter chooses a straight-ticket option first, then votes for individual candidates on eSlate, the other straight-ticket candidates are deselected and a vote for them won't be cast. If a voter chooses individual candidates first, then decides to pick the straight-ticket box, all of the party's candidates are selected.