Texas Democrats File Bills to Protect Voting Rights

[TexasTowelie]

Voter Identification

Several Democrats in the House and Senate filed over twenty bills this session to allow additional forms of photo ID that you could use to vote. Here’s a sample:

HB 295/SB 170 - These bills would allow for students to use their school IDs to identify themselves for voting purposes. Introduced by Rep. Canales and Senator Uresti.

HB 303 – Also filed by Rep. Canales, this bill would place a picture of the voter on the Voter Registration card, and this card could be used as ID for voting purposes.

HB 536 – Filed by Rep. Nevarez, this bill would allow the elderly (people above the age of 65) the ability to vote with an expired ID.

HB 733 – Filed by Rep. Israel, this bill allows for student and veteran IDs to be accepted for voting purposes.


Voter Registration

Registering to vote is a burdensome process, but especially if you don’t know any registrars. Texas currently has some of the worst voter turnout in America. We can change that trend if the laws regarding registering to vote are simplified.

HB 444 – Filed by Rep. Johnson, would implement a statewide online voter registration system.

HB 3267/SB 1449 – Rep. Herrero and Sen. Ellis each introduced bills that would allow anyone who renews their driver’s license, or other form of ID, to automatically be registered to vote.

HB 448 – Filed by Rep. Alonzo, this bill would implement a same day voter registration system in Texas. Same day voter registration has been shown to increase turnout in the states that have put these types of laws in place.

HB258/SB 143 – Another issue Texans have while registering is that if they are denied, they have to go to the County Registrar to figure out why. Sen. Garcia and Rep. Miles have introduced legislation where the registrar’s office would send a letter to the address provided to let the applicant now why their voter registration was denied.

More at http://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-democrats-file-bills-protect-voting-rights .

[misterhighwasted]

1. There are people doing what they can. leading change in the right direction.

It becomes a problem when it comes to passage in a GOP legislature.
That dominance must change also.
But that requires Voting laws to be changed.
And that's where it becomes a vicious damn circle.

Breaking that stubborn stranglehold in Austin is a slow slog, but we keep at it nonetheless.

Good OP.

[Gothmog]

2. Glen Maxey briefed a summit of SD18 members two or so weeks ago

Most of the really bad crap may die but there is no way that any of the bills on voter id will pass the GOP controlled texas legislature. Ron Reynolds from my neck of the woods is one of the Democrats on the House Election Committee but the chair is that crazy Jodi lady who thinks that rape kits clean out rape victims and that a rape victim can not get pregnant if she is examined after the rape.