After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions
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Texas Republicans on Tuesday passed a series of new restrictions on the state’s voting process, concluding a months-long legislative effort by sending the measure to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who plans to sign the bill into law.
The passage of Senate Bill 1 came in the second special legislative session called by Abbott, following historic efforts by House Democrats to deny Republicans a quorum and block the changes.
Twice, House Democrats left the state capitol. The second time, dozens of lawmakers fled to Washington, D.C., to make their case for federal voter protections. The Democrats’ latter effort denied Republicans a quorum for more than a month.
The GOP-led Texas House passed its bill last week, once enough Democrats had returned to the chamber. The legislation then went to conference committee and emerged with some changes.
Notably, the final bill does not include a provision aimed at controversial charges of illegal voting against those with prior convictions.
The legislation in Texas would add new ID requirements for people seeking to vote by mail; add new criminal penalties to the voting process; empower partisan poll watchers; and ban drive-through and 24-hour voting options, steps taken last year by Harris County — home to Houston — amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
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