Texas GOP advances voting bill after Democrats’ holdout ends
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas GOP advances voting bill after Democrats’ holdout ends

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — 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. On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed federal voting rights legislation that congressional Democrats say is progress in their quest to fight back against voting restrictions advanced in states such as Texas. That was another last-ditch gambit by Texas Democrats who have virtually no legislative means left to stop new voting measures in the state — which already has some of the nation’s toughest election laws. For months, Texas Republicans accuse Democrats of exaggerating the bill’s impact and maintain it’s not driven by Trump’s loss, even as some have dodged questions about whether they believe the election was stolen.

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History of this topic

Texas Legislature sends sweeping GOP voting bill to governor
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas Legislature sends sweeping GOP voting bill to governor

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — The GOP-controlled Texas Legislature passed a broad overhaul of the state’s election laws Tuesday, tightening already strict voting rules and dealing a bruising defeat to Democrats who waged a monthslong fight over what they argued was a brazen attempt to disenfranchise minorities and other Democratic-leaning voters. I look forward to signing Senate Bill 1 into law, ensuring …

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions
3 years, 4 months ago

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions

NPR  

After A Standoff With Democrats, Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions Enlarge this image toggle caption Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images 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. Sponsor Message National Texas Republicans Pass New Voting Restrictions Texas Republicans …

Texas Legislature sends sweeping GOP voting bill to governor
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas Legislature sends sweeping GOP voting bill to governor

LA Times  

The Texas Legislature sent a sweeping rewrite of the state’s election laws to Republican Gov. The rest of the far-reaching legislation, spurred in part by former President Trump’s false claims of a stolen election, had set off a heated summer in Texas of walkouts by Democrats, Republican threats of arrests, Abbott’s veto of the paychecks of thousands of rank-and-file staffers …

Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — A standoff in Texas over new voting restrictions that gridlocked the state Capitol for 38 consecutive days ended Thursday when some Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., dropped their holdout, paving the way for Republicans to resume pushing an elections overhaul. Only three new Democrats showed up Thursday, and the vast majority of the more than 50 …

Texas Democrats Return, Ending A 38-Day Holdout That Blocked A Voting Bill
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas Democrats Return, Ending A 38-Day Holdout That Blocked A Voting Bill

NPR  

Texas Democrats Return, Ending A 38-Day Holdout That Blocked A Voting Bill Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP AUSTIN, Texas — A standoff in Texas over new voting restrictions that gridlocked the state Capitol for 38 consecutive days ended Thursday when some Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., dropped their holdout, paving the way for Republicans to …

Texas law enforcement enlisted to end Democrats’ holdout
3 years, 4 months ago

Texas law enforcement enlisted to end Democrats’ holdout

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans enlisted the help of law enforcement for the first time Thursday to force the return of Democratic legislators who fled the state a month ago to block new voting restrictions. The Texas Department of Public Safety, the state’s law enforcement division, said in a statement that it did not “discuss operational specifics” and referred further …

More Texas Democrats return, but not enough to end holdout
3 years, 5 months ago

More Texas Democrats return, but not enough to end holdout

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — A monthlong standoff by Texas Democrats who left the state to block a GOP voting bill inched closer to ending Monday as several holdouts returned and put Republicans on the brink of having enough lawmakers to push forward once again with an election overhaul. The Texas House of Representatives is now just five members shy of a …

As Texas Democrats mull return, GOP voting bill still awaits
3 years, 5 months ago

As Texas Democrats mull return, GOP voting bill still awaits

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Twenty-six days into refusing to come home, Texas Democrats who have twice now blocked a GOP voting bill face a choice: whether to go for Round 3. Setting up camp in a Washington hotel, Texas Democrats spent nearly a month meeting with congressional leaders, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and torpedoed new voting laws back home …

Texas Democrats leave state to try to stop GOP voting bill
3 years, 5 months ago

Texas Democrats leave state to try to stop GOP voting bill

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Democrats in the Texas Legislature bolted Monday for Washington, and said they were ready to remain there for weeks in a second revolt against a GOP overhaul of election laws, forcing a dramatic new showdown over voting rights in America. Greg Abbott told an Austin television station he would simply keep calling special sessions through next year …

Texas Democrats Leave The State In An Effort To Block GOP Voting Restrictions
3 years, 5 months ago

Texas Democrats Leave The State In An Effort To Block GOP Voting Restrictions

NPR  

Texas Democrats Leave The State In An Effort To Block GOP Voting Restrictions Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP Texas House Democrats left the state on Monday in a second high-profile effort to block controversial GOP legislation that critics have slammed as voter suppression. "Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and …

Texas Democrats aim to block voting bill, flee to Washington
3 years, 5 months ago

Texas Democrats aim to block voting bill, flee to Washington

Al Jazeera  

As the party tries to stall a restrictive Republican voting bill, President Biden is set to address voting rights Tuesday. Democratic legislators in Texas are fleeing the state in a bid to block Republicans from passing an elections bill that would impose new restrictions on voting. Amid the political wrangling in Texas, US President Joe Biden plans to deliver a …

Texas Democrats fled the state. Here’s why
3 years, 5 months ago

Texas Democrats fled the state. Here’s why

LA Times  

Texas state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez speaks during a news conference on May 31 in Austin after House Democrats blocked one of the most restrictive voting bills in the U.S. from passing before a midnight deadline. Texas statehouse Democrats fled Monday to Washington D.C. to try and block the GOP’s sweeping elections overhaul bill that makes it harder to vote in …

Texas GOP renews push for new voting laws, unfinished agenda
3 years, 6 months ago

Texas GOP renews push for new voting laws, unfinished agenda

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republicans on Thursday brought back efforts to ban 24-hour polling places and drive-thru voting as Gov. Similar to the GOP’s the sweeping bill blocked in May, the revived version would also empower partisan poll watchers and ban drop boxes for mail-in ballots, making it what would be one of the most comprehensive reworking of a state’s …

Texas Democrats Are Pressing Their Congressional Counterparts To Expand Voting Rights
3 years, 6 months ago

Texas Democrats Are Pressing Their Congressional Counterparts To Expand Voting Rights

NPR  

Texas Democrats Are Pressing Their Congressional Counterparts To Expand Voting Rights Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images A group of Democratic Texas state lawmakers traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with congressional Democrats and Vice President Harris as part of a broader effort to pressure those in their party …

Some Texas Lawmakers Disown Part Of Their Plan To Change Voting Rules
3 years, 7 months ago

Some Texas Lawmakers Disown Part Of Their Plan To Change Voting Rules

NPR  

Some Texas Lawmakers Disown Part Of Their Plan To Change Voting Rules A walkout by Texas Democrats over the weekend prevented a final vote on a bill that would have cut back polling hours and reduce access to mail-in voting. Texas Democrats barely blocked their state's bill, and then yesterday on this program, a key Texas Republican made news. The …

‘Leave the building': Texas walkout escalates voting battles
3 years, 7 months ago

‘Leave the building': Texas walkout escalates voting battles

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Midnight was coming fast. Left without enough House members to conduct business under the rules before a midnight deadline Sunday, Texas Republicans were forced to abandon for now an elections overhaul they had crammed with previously unseen restrictions during closed-door negotiations, including one prohibiting Sunday morning early voting — a time widely used by Black churchgoers in …

Texas: Democrat walkout blocks passage of voting restriction law
3 years, 7 months ago

Texas: Democrat walkout blocks passage of voting restriction law

Al Jazeera  

Critics say the law, like many recently passed across the US, would make it more difficult for some people to vote. The legislation is the most recent attempt in state legislatures across the US to pass voting restrictions, which many Republican legislators have argued are needed to increase security at the polls. Meanwhile, the state’s Republican governor, Greg Abbott, who …

Democrats In Texas Stage Walkout To Block Restrictive Voting Bill
3 years, 7 months ago

Democrats In Texas Stage Walkout To Block Restrictive Voting Bill

NPR  

Democrats In Texas Stage Walkout To Block Restrictive Voting Bill Republican lawmakers in Texas had to give up on a voting bill after Democrats walked out before a final vote. NOEL KING, HOST: Democrats in the Texas Statehouse walked off the floor late last night, effectively blocking a Republican- ASHLEY LOPEZ, BYLINE: Good morning. James Slattery, an attorney with the …

Texas voting bill: Democrats leave House floor, effectively blocking passage of restrictive voting bill for now
3 years, 7 months ago

Texas voting bill: Democrats leave House floor, effectively blocking passage of restrictive voting bill for now

CNN  

Austin, Texas CNN — Texas Republicans’ push to enact a slew of new voting restrictions was stymied – at least for now – by Democrats who walked off the state House floor late Sunday night, leaving majority Republicans without the quorum they needed to approve the bill in the final hours before a midnight deadline. “We may have won the …

Texas GOP’s strict voting bill on the verge of final vote
3 years, 7 months ago

Texas GOP’s strict voting bill on the verge of final vote

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature was on the verge Sunday of signing off on some of the most restrictive voting measures in the U.S., putting the GOP on the brink of a major victory in their nationwide effort to tighten voting access following the 2020 election. Texas is the last big battleground in the GOP’s nationwide efforts to tighten …

EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder
3 years, 7 months ago

EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas took a major step Sunday toward becoming the nation’s largest state where the GOP is making voting harder following the 2020 elections, with the Senate approving a bill that would empower poll watchers, create criminal penalties and add new restrictions on where, when and how to vote. Here are some details: WHAT THE LEGISLATION MEANS FOR …

Texas GOP’s voting restriction bill passes House
3 years, 8 months ago

Texas GOP’s voting restriction bill passes House

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas has become the latest Republican-dominated state to advance sweeping new limits on voting, despite no evidence of any problems with last year’s vote and a coalition of state and federal officials calling the 2020 presidential election the most secure in history. I look forward to seeing you in federal court,” said Democratic state Rep. Trey Martinez …

After All-Night Session, Texas House Approves GOP-Backed Voting Restrictions Bill
3 years, 8 months ago

After All-Night Session, Texas House Approves GOP-Backed Voting Restrictions Bill

NPR  

After All-Night Session, Texas House Approves GOP-Backed Voting Restrictions Bill Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP Texas legislators approved new, more restrictive state election rules after a session that lasted from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday. But the version the House passed early Friday also stripped out some of the more contentious provisions seen …

Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting bills
3 years, 8 months ago

Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting bills

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. More than 50 companies and business organizations, including some in Texas, released an open …

Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting bills
3 years, 8 months ago

Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting bills

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican lawmakers around the country are pressing ahead with efforts to tighten voting laws, despite growing warnings from business leaders that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. More than 50 companies and business organizations, including some in Texas, released an open letter on Tuesday expressing opposition to “any changes” that would make it harder …

Texas high court blocks Houston plan to offer mail ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Texas high court blocks Houston plan to offer mail ballots

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that 2 million Houston voters cannot receive unsolicited mail ballot applications from local elections officials who are dramatically expanding ways to vote in November in the nation’s third-largest county, a key battleground in Texas. Abbott also continues facing lawsuits, including one filed Wednesday by the Texas NAACP, over his decision last …

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