Texas State Senate Passes Election Integrity Bill Targeting Mail-in Ballots

[G.L.R.]

Texas State Senate Passes Election Integrity Bill Targeting Mail-in Ballots

April 1, 2021

The Republican-led Texas  state Senate passed a bill early on Thursday that would ban mail-in  ballot drop boxes and most drive-thru voting—in the wake of controversy  about the voting practices being used during the Nov. 3 election.

The bill, which passed 18-13  along party lines, will now head to the Texas state House of  Representatives. Committee hearings are slated to start when the  lawmakers convene April 6. The measure, according to State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican, is  "designed to address areas through process where bad actors can take  advantage because we want the people of Texas to be confident their  elections are fair, honest, and open." ... It will also require voters who have disabilities to prove that they  cannot access polls in person in order to qualify for a mail-in ballot,  and it would also require authorization from top state leaders to be  alerted about any private funding of more than $1,000 that is given to  election departments ... The state already required that a voter provide a reason to vote by  mail, including being age 65 or older, having an illness or disability,  or those confined to jail or who are out of the United States during the  election.

"Every eligible Texan deserves to have their voice heard at the ballot box—regardless of their race, ethnicity, disability, gender, age, income, or party. SB 7 makes it harder for every Texan to vote," a statement from the state Democratic Party said. "We aggressively fought this bill because we know it will disenfranchise racial and ethnic minority voters and voters with disabilities, including veterans." The Texas Democratic Party had attempted to expand mail-in voting ... They argued that a lack  of immunity to COVID-19, which is caused by the virus, was a condition  that threatened voters' health. But the Texas Supreme Court ultimately rejected Democrats' arguments  and said the lack of immunity did not constitute a physical disability.

Texas State Senate Passes Election Integrity Bill Targeting Mail-in Ballots
https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_breakingnews/texas-state-senate-passes-new-election-integrity-bill_3758548.html