Moment of booth
Tex elex chex signed into law
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the state’s controversial election-integrity bill into law on Tuesday after a monthslong battle with Democrats opposed to the measure.
Abbott traveled to Tyler, Texas, to sign the bill, which sets new rules for mail-in voting, increases the number of partisan poll watchers and outlaws 24hour polling places and drive-thru voting.
The plan “does make it easier than ever before for anybody to go cast a ballot,” Abbott said. “It does also, however, make sure it is harder than ever for people to cheat at the ballot box.”
Last week, the Texas Senate voted 18-13 along party lines to pass the bill after the House voted 80-41 to approve it. Democrats were able to stall the measure in May by staging a mass walkout to prevent its passage.
Abbott signaled his intent to sign the bill shortly after lawmakers’ approval.
Supporters have pointed out that the bill will require counties to have polls open for at least an extra hour during the early-voting period and requires counties with populations of at least 55,000 people to have polls open for at least 12 hours during a second week of early voting.
Democrats claimed the bill was designed to make it more difficult for minorities, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities to vote, especially in big cities, which traditionally lean Democratic.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the legislation “un-American,” saying in a statement, “Black votes were suppressed today. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has intentionally signed away democracy for so many. We are disgusted,”
Following the Democrats’ walkout in May, Abbott was able to win passage of the bill by calling repeated special legislative sessions.