A federal court blocked a controversial voter ID law in Texas on Thursday. The three-judge panel said evidence shows the cost of obtaining a voter ID would discriminate against minorities who might not be able to afford one.

"Getting IDs for a lot of people is a real challenge, especially disabled people, poor people and of course minorities," said Ed Conley, Chair of the Taylor County Democratic Party.

Some republicans disagree.

"Why shouldn't we require photo ID for one of the most sacred rights that we have - voting?" said Chair of the Taylor County Republican Party, Joy Ellinger.

Conley said those most affected by the law would be more likely to vote democratic.

"Well there's no polite way to say it. It's designed to keep minorities from voting," said Conley.

Ellinger said that is not the purpose of the law.

"It is not to discriminate. It is to protect the sanctity of voting," Ellinger said. 

She argued the law was designed to keep voter fraud from occurring, but she says that's not a common problem in Taylor County.

"There have not been any instances of voter fraud [in Taylor County] in years... but we want to ensure that statewide," said Ellinger. 

Conley said voter fraud is not only rare in the county, but countrywide.

"There's like one hundredth of one percent of voter frauds in this country. I mean it just doesn't happen," said Conley. 

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said he thinks the court got it wrong and plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.