U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito has asked Texas to respond by Monday, June 22, in Democratic Party v Abbott, 19A1055. This is the case over Texas rules for absentee voting. Texas law says voters age 65 and over can vote absentee for any reason. Younger voters cannot vote absentee unless they will be away from home on election day. The Texas Democratic Party wants any voter to have the ability to vote absentee, and argues that the 26th amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not permit Texas to treat old voters differently than other voters. The party won injunctive relief in U.S. District Court, but the Fifth Circuit reversed. Here is the party’s application to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 26th amendment says “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age.”