However the actuality is that the Republican-dominated Legislature focused this invoice at practices in counties with a lot of Democratic voters, corresponding to Harris County and its largest metropolis, Houston. The brand new legislation bans 24-hour voting and drive-through voting, two choices that Harris County simply occurred to make use of within the final election. If this new legislation causes fewer Democrats to vote in coming elections, few Republican lawmakers could be upset.
The invoice even provides new identification necessities to voting by mail, a change that might boomerang on Republicans. Loads of GOP voters are older and would favor to vote by mail. Those that are over 65 or have disabilities can nonetheless use that choice, however a lot of different voters would use this methodology if they may — and once more, loads of them would undoubtedly vote for Republicans.
Paradoxically, a minor change in voting in Jefferson County bolstered the purpose that regardless of these adjustments, voters have the ultimate say on election day. The county needed to eradicate one voting website — the New Gentle Church of Beaumont — when church officers mentioned the constructing would now not be accessible.
As Jefferson County Clerk Theresa Goodness identified, whereas the change is unlucky, it actually shouldn’t cease anybody from voting on this county.
“It doesn’t hamper any of the voters as a result of they will go to any location,” Goodness mentioned. “They don’t should go to a sure location. They’ll go to any of the opposite 39 areas.”
That’s an vital reality to remember in future elections. No matter adjustments come from this new legislation, voters nonetheless maintain the ability in our democracy. They’ll nonetheless register to vote, vote early (typically at a number of areas inside their county) and vote on election day. A few of them may even vote by mail. All of which may not be as handy appropriately due to this legislation, but it surely stays very doable.
All Texans who’re eligible to vote ought to be certain they casts ballots within the subsequent election, and each one after that. They need to register their opinion on this new legislation together with different points, both in favor of the Democrats who protested it or the Republicans who promoted it. In flip, these votes will likely be mirrored within the make-up of the subsequent Legislature and the legal guidelines it produces.
This modification is state legislation for now, however the voters of Texas will finally resolve if it stays that means.
