TEXAS HOUSE ADVANCES GOP VOTING BILL

  

House Republicans on Thursday passed a bill instituting new voting restrictions, following months of protest and a six-week walkout by Democrats.

After 12 hours of discussion, the nearly 50-page bill advanced on a 79-37 vote.  The bill includes bans on drive-thru and 24-hour voting options, adds ID requirements for mail voters, and empowers partisan poll watchers.

The bill will head to the Texas Senate and, if passed, will head to the desk of Governor Greg Abbott to be signed into law.

Enough Democrats returned to Austin last week to reestablish a quorum and continue discussion on the bill, after dozens of lawmakers left the state for Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to move forward with federal voting rights protections.

Republicans state the new legislation seeks to protect the integrity of elections and standardize election procedures, while Democrats condemn the bill, saying it would negatively impact voters of color.

Texas is now expected to become the latest GOP state to pass stricter voting laws, joining states such as Arizona, Georgia and Florida.