GOP efforts to undermine elections in Texas and states across the country increases urgency for Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act
With Texas’ new anti-voter bill now signed into law, Governor Greg Abbott will be appointing a new Texas Secretary of State, who under the new law will have broader powers to interfere and control county run elections. The new Secretary of State will be able to fine counties up to a $1,000 a day and conduct sham reviews of potentially years worth of elections including in Texas’ largest and most diverse and Democratic counties, with increased ability to punish officials who are on the frontlines of running Texas’ elections.
“As Governor Abbott is preparing to pick the official that enforces Texas’ new anti-voter law, it is more important than ever that the U.S. Senate passes the Freedom to Vote Act,” said End Citizens United // Let America Vote President Tiffany Muller. “This commonsense compromise legislation will protect local election officials, ensure that any election reviews are nonpartisan, fair, and accurate, and protect the freedom to vote.”
Georgia and Arizona have passed similar laws that embolden politicians working to undermine faith in our democracy and restrict access to the ballot box by overruling the hard-working county officials who work tirelessly to ensure elections run smoothly. Since the start of 2021, at least 31 bills have been signed into law in 18 states that will restrict the freedom to vote.
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