Stringer v. Pablos

274 F. Supp. 3d 588
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 31, 2017
DocketCivil No. 5:16-CV-257-OLG
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 274 F. Supp. 3d 588 (Stringer v. Pablos) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stringer v. Pablos, 274 F. Supp. 3d 588 (W.D. Tex. 2017).

Opinion

ORDER

ORLANDO L. GARCIA, CHIEF U.S.. DISTRICT JUDGE

Pending before the Court is Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim (docket no. 7). The Court has considered the motion, Plaintiffs’ response (docket no. 9.) and Defendants’ reply (docket no. 12).1 Upon consideration of the arguments submitted by the parties and the applicable law, the Court concludes that Defendants’ motion should be DENIED for the reasons set forth below. '

Background

Plaintiffs are four Texas voters who, after moving, completed change-of-address transactions through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) online Texas Driver License Renewal and Change of Address system (the DPS online system). Docket no. 1 at ¶¶ 16, 46-50. During those transactions, they checked a box to indicate that “I want to register to vote.” Docket no. 1 at ¶¶ 36-38, 46-49. Thereafter, they believed that their voter registration had been updated. Docket no. 1 at ¶ 50. However, as the DPS online system advises users, checking the box to indicate that “I want to register to vote” does not actually register users to vote or update their voter registration. Docket nos. 1 at ¶40; 1-2 at 2. Rather, the receipt page that appears when users complete their transaction provides a link that users can follow to a destination page where they can download a physical voter registration form, which they must then print, complete, and submit either in person or by mail. Docket no. 1 at ¶ 40-42. As a result of their outdated voter registration, Plaintiffs were unable to vote using regular ballots in elections held in 2014, and, in one Plaintiffs Cáse, 2015. Docket 'no. 1 at ¶¶ 46-52. Three Plaintiffs were only able to cast provisional ballots, and two of them were later notified that their ballots had not been countéd. Docket no. 1 at ¶¶46, 48, 49. The fourth Plaintiff was permitted to vote only for state-wide candidates. Docket no. 1 át ¶ 47.

Plaintiffs claim that Defendants’ administration of voter registration through the DPS online system violates National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) “motor voter” provisions that require “[simultaneous application for voter registration and application for motor vehicle driver’s license[.]” 52 U.S.C. § 20504 (2012); Docket no. 1 at ¶¶ 59,■ 62-67, 70-74. Plaintiffs also raise a claim under the Equal Protection Clause. Docket no. 1 at ¶¶ 58-59. In their motion [591]*591seeking dismissal of Plaintiffs’ claims, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs. lack standing because their improper voter registration was caused by their own failure to complete and submit physical voter registration forms after completing their' transactions through the DPS" online system; because they have not pleaded that they remain unregistered to vote at their new addresses; and because Plaintiffs have hot provided the required pre-suit notice of their claims. Docket no. 7 at 7-13. Defendants also argue that Plaintiffs have failed to state claims because they acknowledge not having submitted signed voter registration applications with their updated addresses; the NVRA does hot require-states to provide online voter registration; and because Plaintiffs have not identified similarly situated individuals who were treated differently than them.

Legal Standards and Analysis

A. Standing

When a court lacks statutory or constitutional power to hear a case, inelud-ing for reasons of mootness or lack of standing, a party may move for dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Hooks v. Landmark Indus., Inc., 797 F.3d 309, 312 (5th Cir. 2015). A plaintiffs failure to show their standing, the case’s ripeness, and the court’s subject matter jurisdiction may be established by the complaint alone, the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts, or the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts plus the court’s resolution of disputed facts. Robinson v. TCI/US W. Commc’ns Inc., 117 F.3d 900, 904 (5th Cir. 1997); Ramming v. United States, 281 F.3d 158, 161 (5th Cir. 2001). To establish Article III standing, a plaintiff must show an “injury in fact” that is concrete, particularized, and actual or imminent; that the injury in fact is “fairly traceable” to the challenged conduct of the defendant; and that it is likely, not merely speculative, that the injury can be redressed by a favorable decision. Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl. Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 181, 120 S.Ct. 693, 145 L.Ed.2d 610 (2000).

Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have failed to establish the causation element necessary for Article III standing because Plaintiffs’ injury stemmed from their own failure to print, complete, and submit physical voter registration forms as instructed during their online transactions. Defendants rely upon the holding of. the Fifth Circuit! in Westfall v. Miller, In’ that case, the court found a lack of standing where the plaintiffs “inaction has caused any injury he has suffered” because he sued over a requirement that he obtain law enforcement certification before being permitted to purchase a machine gun after unsuccessfully seeking the certification from only some of the officials who could provide it. 77 F.3d 868, 871 (5th Cir. 1996). However, Westfall is distinguishable. Itt that case, the plaintiff failed to follow the statutory procedure for obtaining the law enforcement certification, and then sought a writ of mandaihus, and brought a claim under the Administrative Procedures Act, seeking a court order that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms approve his application anyway. The court concluded that, as to his non-constitutional claims, plaintiff lacked standing because he sought a court order dictating the outcome of a statutory process -that he had not completed. Westfall, 77 F.3d at 872. Westfall did also raise constitutional challenges .to the validity of the law enforcement certification requirement, but the court found separately that those claims failed “because the law enforcement certification requirement did not violate the Constitution.” Westfall, 77 F.3d at 870. In this1 case, Plaintiffs challenge the validity of the state’s registration process, and the Court [592]*592■finds no basis to dismiss that challenge. Defendants’ argument that Plaintiffs are responsible for their own injury because they failed to complete the state’s registration process overlooks the two-fold nature of Plaintiffs’ claimed injury. Plaintiffs contend that state’s registration process is itself unlawful, and thus allege not only disenfranchisement, but also a violation of their statutory right to “[simultaneous application for voter registration and ... driver’s license[.]” 52 U.S.C. § 20504. This statutory injury remains cognizable regardless of whether Plaintiffs completed the voter registration process that they challenge.2

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Bluebook (online)
274 F. Supp. 3d 588, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stringer-v-pablos-txwd-2017.