The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it was suing the state of Texas over new election integrity laws on Thursday. 

Republican Gov. Greg Abbot signed a voting bill into law in September that disallows election officials from sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications, and reduces pandemic driven voter accommodations like 24-hour and drive-thru voting.

“It does make it easier than ever before for anybody to go cast a ballot. It does also, however, make sure it is harder than ever for people to cheat at the ballot box,” Abbott said at the signing. 

The DOJ alleges that the new law is in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, for its ability to reject mail-in ballots and ballot request forms over “for immaterial errors and omissions” on paperwork that they claim are not required to prove voter eligibility.  

“Our democracy depends on the right of eligible voters to cast a ballot and to have that ballot counted,” Attorney General Merrick Garland commented. “The Justice Department will continue to use all the authorities at its disposal to protect this fundamental pillar of our society.”

The department also says the Voting Rights Act is being violated by Texas, for scaling back assistance to voters who are illiterate, disabled, or deployed military members.  

“The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting the fundamental right to vote for all Americans,” argued Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. 

“Laws that impair eligible citizens’ access to the ballot box have no place in our democracy. Texas Senate Bill 1’s restrictions on voter assistance at the polls and on which absentee ballots cast by eligible voters can be accepted by election officials are unlawful and indefensible.”

The lawsuit is the latest legal battle between the Biden-led DOJ and Texas, who are currently embroiled in court cases involving immigration enforcement, vaccine mandates, and abortion rights.