The Texas Legislature’s Session Ends May 29th with Democracy Bills Pending at the Deadline

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 26, 2023

Photo: Texas Legislature

Today’s Script: 
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

Today’s Links now located below the script


You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

May 29th ends the Texas legislature’s term, and we have a little bit of good news, some bad news, and some hopeful news. On the upside, more funding for poll workers and improvements to mail-in voting.  On the downside, withdrawal from ERIC, the voter registration crosscheck system.

Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 1052 which compensates poll workers for work before the polls open, and the Texas House passed SB 1599, improving tracking of mail-in ballots, and more options to fix vote-by-mail applications and ballots before election day.  The bill goes back to the Senate for approval.

As Votebeat Texas reports, it’s not all good news.  A bill setting rules for  an alternative to the multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, is poised for passage by the Texas House.  ERIC’s system identified over 900,000 Texas voters who were duplicated, had moved, or died, to keep voter rolls clean.  But conspiracy-driven activists have pushed states to pull out of ERIC, despite no comparable alternatives.

Pro-democracy groups are hopeful that some bills will DIE with the end of the legislative term:  Making it a felony for ineligible citizens who vote – even inadvertently; ending countywide voting, and giving the Secretary of State the power to order a new election – a bill targeting only liberal-leaning Harris County.

We have more on the Texas legislation at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org,where you can also sign up for the daily report by email.  I’m Brian Beihl.


Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Texas Legislature –  SB 1070 – Withdrawal from ERIC

Texas Legislature via Voting Rights Lab –  SB 1052 – Compensation for Poll Workers
Texas Legislature via Voting Rights Lab – SB 1599 – Mail-In Voting Application and Ballot Curing Options
Texas Legislature via Voting Rights Lab – SB 2 – Increasing Penalty for Ineligible Voting to a Felony
Texas Legislature via Voting Rights Lab –  SB 990 – Eliminating County-wide Voting

Texas Tribune – Texas House’s weekend off means key Senate bills die after missing a legislative deadline

Groups Taking Action:
Move Texas, League of Women Voters TXACLU Texas, Mi Familia Vota, OCA Houston 


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