Republicans say the bill will enhance election security, while Democrats say it would restrict access to the polls, especially for minorities
79-37 late Thursday night, after walk-outs by Democrats paralyzed the law’s progress for months.
The bill, championed by Republicans as a way to enhance election security, would broadly tighten voting procedures across the state. Democrats said it would restrict access to the polls, especially for minorities. The House spent Thursday debating the bill for more than 12 hours, considering dozens of amendments. It will require one more vote before heading back to the state Senate, which has already approved it, to consider the House changes before it goes to Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, for a signature.
The battle over the bill is part of a national debate over election security and voter suppression in the wake of President Biden’s election, which some supporters of former President Donald Trump claimed was illegitimate. States including Florida and Georgia passed bills placing more restrictions on certain types of voting, drawing pushback from civil rights groups and corporations. No court has found evidence of widespread voter fraud.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas House Passes Voting Rights Restrictions Despite Democrats’ EffortsDemocratic lawmakers left Texas to stall voting on a Republican-backed voter suppression bill, but enough of them returned for the legislation to pass.
Read more »
Texas GOP advances voting bill after Democrats’ holdout endsAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans advanced new voting restrictions Thursday night after months of protests by Democrats, who after returning from a 38-day walkout are now all but out of ways to stop a bill that includes a ban on drive-thru voting and would empower poll watchers.
Read more »
Texas GOP pushes ahead on voting bill with Democrats backTexas Republicans on Thursday pressed forward on a third try at passing new voting restrictions after Democrats returned from a 38-day walkout with little ability now to stop the bill from reaching Gov. Greg Abbott. A nearly 50-page bill was headed for early passage in the Texas House, where some but not all of the more than 50 Democrats who fled to Washington D.C. last month to temporarily block the legislation remained absent. With enough Democrats back to secure a quorum and allow business to resume in the Texas Capitol, Republicans were racing to get the elections bill across the finish line before a Labor Day weekend deadline.
Read more »