Texas legislature gives final approval to sweeping voting restrictions bill
The Texas legislature on Tuesday passed the final version of a bill that would impose substantial new restrictions on voting access in the state.
The bill, which sparked a weeks-long political showdown, is expected to be quickly signed into law by the state's Republican governor.
Both the state House of Representatives and state Senate - each controlled by Republicans - approved the bill, 80-41 and 18-13, respectively.
The bill would outlaw drive-through and 24-hour voting locations and add new identification requirements for mail-in voting.
In addition to banning election officials from sending out unsolicited applications to vote by mail, the measure would also give poll watchers more power in the polling place and provide new regulations on those who assist voters.
Texas, which already has some of the most burdensome voting requirements in the US, was among the states with the lowest voter turnout in 2020.
The bill, which now goes to the desk of Governor Greg Abbott, is expected to be challenged by civil rights groups.
Abbott, who pushed the bill, said in a written statement shortly after it passed that the rules would make "it easier to vote and harder to cheat."
"I look forward to signing Senate Bill 1 into law, ensuring election integrity in Texas," he said.
Republicans have pushed similar legislation, citing former President Donald Trump's unfounded allegations that voter fraud cost him the November election.
Democratic lawmakers and voting rights advocates, on other hand, have warned that the new measure would disproportionately hamper voters of color.
"You can say this isn't about the 'big lie' and all that. But it is," said Senator Royce West, a Democrat, in speaking against the bill on Tuesday. "This wasn't even on the agenda before Trump started talking about election integrity."
Senator Bryan Hughes, a Republican who authored the bill, rejected the criticism, saying, "Anyone who tells you there is no voter fraud in Texas is telling you a very big lie."
"We know it happens. The right to vote is too precious - it cost too much for us to leave it unprotected."
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