GOV. ABBOTT SIGNS NEW VOTING LEGISLATION INTO LAW
Governor Greg Abbott has signed an overhaul of the state’s election system into law, following months of protest by Democrats.
Gov. Abbott signed Senate Bill 1 today (Tuesday), making Texas the latest GOP state to institute new voting laws in the wake of the 2020 election.
Republicans say the new legislation protects the integrity of elections and standardizes election procedures, while Democrats say the new law negatively affects marginalized voters.
The law bans drive-thru and 24-hour voting while creating uniform voting hours, adds ID requirements for voting by mail, prohibits local elections officials from sending out unsolicited mail-in ballot applications and gives more protections to partisan poll watchers.
The elections bill prompted walkouts by Texas Democrats at the end of the 87th Legislature’s regular session in May and at the beginning of a special session called in July. Enough Democrats returned to Austin in August to reestablish a quorum and continue discussion on the bill.
Lawsuits have already been filed against the new law, and lawmakers have asked Congress to move forward with federal voting rights protections.