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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas Republicans rolled out new election restrictions Thursday evening after months of Democratic protests that, having returned from a 38-day strike, now have almost no way of stopping a law that includes a drive-through ban on voting and would empower election observers.
What you need to know
- After a contentious debate, Texas House put forward the bill to further restrict voting by 79 votes to 37 along the party lines on Thursday evening
- The development comes after a 38-day Democratic strike in the state to prevent the law
- Governor Greg Abbott says he will sign the bill, which is due to arrive at his desk in early September
- Texas will be the last major GOP state to tighten electoral laws after losing former President Trump in 2020
The nearly 50-page bill passed the Texas House with a 79-37 majority, moving fast a week after its Democratic rejection ended. Republican Governor Greg Abbott says he will sign the measure, which is well on its way to reaching his desk by early September, if not sooner.
In what is now the third attempt by the GOP to pass the law since May, the atmosphere was charged. For more than 12 hours, Republicans defended the changes as a safeguard, while Democrats, who offered a series of rejected attempts to soften the law, continued to say it would have a disproportionate impact on people of color. At a heated point, Republican House spokesman Dade Phelan interrupted lawmakers to tell them not to accuse each other of racism – or even speak the word.
But in the end, the law was easily passed, just as the Democrats knew it would happen upon their return.
Texas will now be the last major GOP state to pass stricter electoral laws stemming from former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 elections were stolen. When an exchange on Thursday turned into the violent January 6th riot, Republican Kyle Biedermann, who was in Washington, DC that day, downplayed the attack and declined that it was a riot.
To stop the law, more than 50 Democrats had traveled to Washington DC, a destination they chose to educate Congress about the voting rights legislation. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a federal suffrage bill that Democrats in Congress believe is a step forward in their efforts to crack down on electoral restrictions in states like Texas. But the Democrats do not have the votes to overcome the Republican resistance in the Senate.
“As much as you may denounce our need to go to Washington, I am really asking for federal protection,” said Democratic State MP Rafael Anchia.
Some Republicans haven’t hidden their frustration at the Democrats’ refusal to return.
“I think you could take care of it a little more and should have been here,” Republican JM Lozano said during an exchange with Anchia.
The bill is now going back to the State Senate, which passed a similar version this month after a 15-hour filibuster by Democrat Carol Alvarado.
This was another last-ditch effort by the Texas Democrats, who have virtually no legislative resources left, to stop new electoral action in the state – which already has some of the strictest electoral laws in the country. Up for re-election in 2022, Abbott has called for the bill and quickly vetoed paychecks for 2,100 legislature employees after the Democrats first blocked the legislation by leaving the state capitol in May.
Abbott then had to call a special meeting to take up the voting restrictions. In July, the Democrats again left the country and dozens of people boarded private jets for the country’s capital.
With no quorum of 100 MPs required to do business, Republicans had to wait, frustrated with Democrats, but knew time was on their side. After the 30-day special session ended, Abbott called another – and this time the Republicans enlisted the help of law enforcement.
In the end, the bill looked very much like what the Democrats passed more than a month ago. It includes a number of tweaks and changes to the state’s electoral law that would make it more difficult overall to cast a vote in Texas.
Among other things, it bans drive-through voting and threatens local election officials with criminal charges if they post election applications to voters who do not apply. Many of the regulations target Harris County – which Houston is a part of and a major Democratic stronghold – after leaders expanded voting opportunities there during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also says that election observers appointed by election campaigns and political parties cannot be denied “freedom of movement” and that it becomes a crime for electoral judges to obstruct them. Concerns raised by Democrats about voter intimidation and disturbance have been answered with Republicans, who pointed to oaths and training that election observers are required to take.
For months, Texas Republicans have accused Democrats of exaggerating the effects of the law, claiming it was not driven by Trump’s loss, even though some have sidestepped the question of whether they believe the election was stolen. Republicans note that the latest version would require an additional hour of early voting each day and would result in more counties offering at least 12 hours early voting on weekdays.
“Texas offers an immense number of choices,” said Republican MP Andrew Murr, who carries the bill in the House of Representatives.
Abbott must receive the invoice by Labor Day weekend. Otherwise, Republicans will have to start over a fourth time.
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