The Republican Congress of the US state of Texas on Tuesday passed a new electoral law that makes it more difficult for some population groups to cast a vote. State Republican Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill soon.
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Both the House of Representatives and the state Senate — both controlled by Republicans — approved the measure. This includes a ban on drive-through voting and 24-hour voting locations and the addition of new identification requirements for postal voting.
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Drive-through and 24-hour voting were innovations introduced around the last presidential election in the Houston metropolitan area, which is home to many people of color. The measures are said to have been partly responsible for the record turnout in the area, as they make it easier for people to vote.
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Similar legislation in other states
Similar legislation has also been passed in other states with a Republican majority, including Florida and Georgia. Republicans repeatedly refer to former President Donald Trump’s claim that voter fraud cost him last November’s election. Despite extensive research and multiple recounts across the country, no evidence has ever been found for this.
The bill was finally passed after dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled the state on July 12 in protest. They did this to break the legislative quorum, delaying its adoption by more than six weeks. The Democrats argued that the new law disproportionately hinders voters of color.
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‘Last Chapter in Racist Legacy’
State senator Juan Hinojosa, a Democrat, called the bill “the latest chapter in a racist legacy of American voter suppression,” which will be “rolled out as minorities threaten to take power.” According to the most recent census, the Latino population in Texas is now nearly equal to that of non-Latino whites. The Latino population, i.e. people with roots in Latin America, is expected to be in the majority by 2022.
Democratic Representative Trey Martinez said opponents of the new electoral law will continue the battle in court. “This law was written with one purpose in mind: to stop certain people from voting,” Martinez said. “Once the governor signs this into law, it will face strong opposition in federal courts.”
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