2021-09-01 07:00:00
The electoral law reform in Texas provides, among other things, for a ban on so-called drive-in voting (i.e. from the car), shorter opening times for polling stations and a limit on postal voting options. For example, it is now prohibited for official bodies to send unsolicited applications for postal voting to voters.
Both chambers of parliament in the American state approved the plans in Austin with a majority of the ruling Republicans. The opposition Democrats in Texas see the reform as an attempt to make it more difficult for African Americans and other minorities to participate in elections. In the United States, when the voting barriers are higher, minority groups tend to stay at home — and these groups tend to vote for Democrats rather than Republicans.
Governor Greg Abbott sees the change in law making election fraud more difficult Image: Bob Daemmrich/ZUMA Press/picture alliance
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that he was looking forward to signing the law into law. This protects the integrity of the elections. Critics, on the other hand, see the changes as an attack on democracy. The prominent Democrat and former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke from Texas, for example, spoke of “voter suppression”.
Since last year’s US presidential election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated Republican incumbent Donald Trump, Republicans have been pushing for changes to electoral laws in the states they govern. They justify this with the fraud susceptibility of the previous legislation. Trump continues to claim he was robbed of victory by voter fraud. His camp failed in court, however, with numerous lawsuits once morest the result.
Un-American, un-patriotic…
Un-American, undemocratic and unpatriotic – President Biden recently criticized the tightening of electoral law initiated by Republicans. The aim of the laws is that fewer and fewer people vote, he said in a speech in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Aren’t you ashamed?” he asked the Republicans.
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