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Texas elections bill faces two federal court challenges from voting rights advocates

Sami Sparber, Dallas Morning News | Published on 9/3/2021

 

AUSTIN — Two separate coalitions of voting rights advocates, civil rights organizations and faith-based groups filed lawsuits Friday challenging the divisive GOP elections bill, days after Texas lawmakers greenlit the proposal and sent it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

The groups argued that provisions in the bill, expected to be signed soon by Abbott, violate federal law and asked judges to block the governor and other state officials from enforcing it.

In their suit filed in federal court in San Antonio, the plaintiffs’ legal team argued the sweeping elections bill, which bans drive-through voting, empowers poll watchers and threatens election officials with new criminal penalties, “imposes burdens that will discourage, intimidate and deter eligible Texas voters, and will disproportionately impact voters of color and voters with disabilities.”

Among the plaintiffs in the first lawsuit are organizations representing the interests of Hispanic and Black Texans, the Harris County Elections Administrator and Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. The group’s legal team includes attorneys with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

The plaintiffs in that suit named Abbott, Texas Deputy Secretary of State Jose A. Esparza, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Medina County Elections Administrator Lupe C. Torres as defendants.

“Protecting the integrity of our elections is critical in the state of Texas, which is why Governor Abbott made election integrity an emergency item during the regular legislative session and worked to ensure its passage by calling special session after special session,” Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze said in a statement.

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