🗳️💥 Da Texas Legislature Target Elections in Democratic Stronghold, Eh! 💪🏽🏛️
Da Latest Da Texas Legislature wen give da final approval on Sunday to some new voting bills fo’ increase da penalties fo’ illegal voting and expand da state oversight of local elections, especially in Harris County, wea Houston stay. Dem bills now goin’ to Gov. Greg Abbott fo’ him fo’ sign. One of da bills, known as Senate Bill 1750, goin’ change how elections run in Houston few months before da mayoral race come up in November by makin’ da county go back to da previous system. Anothah bill, Senate Bill 1933, goin’ give da secretary of state, wea da governor pick ’em, broad new powers fo’ direct how elections run in da county if get complaints and to petition da court fo’ replace da top election officials when necessary. 📜✍️🗳️
Why It Matters: Harris County Could Tilt da Power Balance in Texas Harris County, wea Houston stay, da most populous county in Texas, stay solidly Democratic. Dis means dat da passage of dese bills stay da result of da Texas Republicans’ effort fo’ challenge da Democratic dominance in da area. Dey pointing out problems on Election Day last November in Harris County as their justification fo’ contesting da results dat favored da Democrats. Dis raises concerns ’bout da way da Democratic-led county run its elections and may affect da power balance in Texas. 🏢🤔🔀
“It was a stated intention of some of da folks in da Legislature to take action against Harris County election administration,” said Daniel Griffith, senior policy director at Secure Democracy USA, one nonpartisan organization focused on elections and voter access. 🗣️💬
Senate Bill 1750 would eliminate da position of elections administrator in Harris County, which was only established in late 2020. If dis bill becomes law and gets da governor’s signature, da county goin’ have to go back to da previous system where da county clerk and da county tax collector-assessor share da responsibilities. Both positions currently held by elected Democrats. State Senator Paul Bettencourt, one Houston Republican and sponsor of several election bills, said, “Da Legislature’s support fo’ S.B. 1750 and S.B. 1933 stay ’cause Harris County not too big to fail, but too big to ignore. Da public’s trust in elections in Harris County must be restored.” 🏛️💼💔
Anothah bill, Senate Bill 1070, goin’ remove Texas from da interstate system fo’ crosschecking voter registration information run by one nonprofit called da Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Dis system been criticized by conservatives in several states, ’cause it require states to conduct voter outreach when new voters move in from out of state. Da Texas measure goin’ prohibit da state from enterin’ any crosschecking system dat require voter outreach. Yet anothah bill, House Bill 1243, goin’ increase da penalty fo’ illegal voting from one misdemeanor to one felony. ⚖️❌🚫
Da measures passed despite opposition from Democratic representatives and voting rights groups. However, advocates fo’ greater access to da polls relieved dat more restrictive measures proposed in da State Senate, such as requiring voters fo’ use their assigned polling place instead of votin’ anywhere in da county and creatin’ one system fo’ da state to order new elections under certain circumstances in Harris County, failed in da Texas House. Daniel Griffith expressed satisfaction, sayin’, “Dose nevah move and dat’s definitely one good thing.” 😅🙌🏽
What’s Next: Lawsuit and Close Watch on Upcoming Elections Dis new legislation goin’ bring intense scrutiny to da elections process, especially in Harris County. County officials goin’ need fo’ revamp their system just months before significant elections. Under da new laws, if there are complaints ’bout how elections run in dis Democratic-led county, da secretary of state, who happen to be one former Republican state senator, can step in and oversee elections as early as next year, ’cause da county goin’ be votin’ fo’ president. Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston said, “Dese bills create more problems than dey allegedly solve.” Top officials in Harris County pledged fo’ take dis matter to court and challenge da measures aimed specifically at their county once da laws go into effect on September 1, if da governor signs ’em. Dis means da fight ova elections in da county stay far from ova. ⚖️🔍🗳️
NOW IN ENGLISH
🗳️💥 The Texas Legislature Targets Elections in a Democratic Stronghold, Eh! 💪🏽🏛️
The Latest The Texas Legislature has given its final approval on Sunday to a series of new voting bills aimed at increasing penalties for illegal voting and expanding state oversight of local elections, particularly in Harris County, where Houston is located. These bills are now awaiting Governor Greg Abbott’s signature. One of the bills, known as Senate Bill 1750, aims to change the way elections are conducted in Houston a few months before the upcoming mayoral race in November, requiring the county to revert to the previous election system. Another bill, Senate Bill 1933, grants broad new powers to the secretary of state, appointed by the governor, to direct the operations of elections in the county in response to complaints and petition the court to replace top election officials when necessary. 📜✍️🗳️
Why It Matters: Harris County Could Shift the Power Balance in Texas Harris County, the most populous county in Texas, is a solid Democratic stronghold. The passage of these bills is a clear attempt by Texas Republicans to challenge Democratic dominance in the region. They have cited issues during the last November’s Election Day in Harris County as a justification for contesting the results that favored Democrats, raising concerns about the way elections are conducted in the Democratic-led county and its potential impact on the power balance in Texas. 🏢🤔🔀
“It was a stated intention of some of the individuals in the Legislature to take action against Harris County’s election administration,” said Daniel Griffith, Senior Policy Director at Secure Democracy USA, a nonpartisan organization focused on elections and voter access. 🗣️💬
Senate Bill 1750 would eliminate the position of elections administrator in Harris County, which was only established in late 2020. If this bill becomes law with the governor’s signature, the county would have to revert to the previous system where the county clerk and the county tax collector-assessor share the responsibilities. Both positions are currently held by elected Democrats. State Senator Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican and sponsor of several election bills, stated, “The Legislature’s support for S.B. 1750 and S.B. 1933 is because Harris County is not too big to fail, but too big to ignore. The public’s trust in elections in Harris County must be restored.” 🏛️💼💔
Another bill, Senate Bill 1070, aims to remove Texas from an interstate system for crosschecking voter registration information operated by a nonprofit organization called the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). This system has faced criticism from conservatives in various states because it requires states to conduct voter outreach when new voters move in from out of state. The Texas measure would prohibit the state from participating in any crosschecking system that requires voter outreach. Additionally, House Bill 1243 seeks to increase the penalty for illegal voting from a misdemeanor to a felony. ⚖️❌🚫
Despite opposition from Democratic representatives and voting rights groups, these measures were passed. However, advocates for greater access to the polls are relieved that more restrictive measures proposed in the State Senate, such as requiring voters to use their assigned polling place instead of voting anywhere in the county and establishing a system for the state to order new elections under certain circumstances in Harris County, failed in the Texas House. Daniel Griffith expressed satisfaction, saying, “Those measures did not move forward, and that’s definitely a positive development.” 😅🙌🏽
What’s Next: Lawsuit and Close Monitoring of Upcoming Elections This new legislation will bring intense scrutiny to the elections process, especially in Harris County. County officials will need to revamp their system just months before significant elections. Under the new laws, if there are complaints about how elections are conducted in this Democratic-led county, the secretary of state, a former Republican state senator, can step in and oversee elections as early as next year, as the county prepares to vote for the president. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner commented, “These bills create more problems than they allegedly solve.” Top officials in Harris County have pledged to take this matter to court and challenge the measures specifically targeting their county once the laws go into effect on September 1, assuming the governor signs them. This means that the fight over elections in the county is far from over. ⚖️🔍🗳️
