Texas Republicans effort to restrict voter access in the state hit a wall on Sunday night after Democrats staged a walkout, leaving Republicans without the quorum they needed to approve the bill before a midnight deadline.
The Texas Tribune obtained a text message sent by Rep. Chris Turner, the House Democratic Caucus chair, to all of its members, that read, “Take your key and leave the chamber discretely. Do not go to the gallery. Leave the building.”
Their absence left the House without a quorum — which requires two-thirds of the 150 House members to be present — needed to take a vote, the Texas Tribune noted.
Their move effectively killed Senate Bill 7 for this year’s legislative session. But Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said that the bill would be added to a special session agenda. Its not clear when this session would be called or whether Republicans are considering passing the bill as it is now or make further changes.
After Donald Trump’s loss in November, GOP-controlled legislatures have seized on his false claims of widespread voter fraud to push through new laws making it harder for some people to vote.
The bill in Texas would ban drive-thru voting, limit voting hours, make it more difficult to cast mail ballots and empower partisan poll watchers.
Democrats have argued the bill would make it harder for people of color to vote in Texas. Republicans, however, called the bill an “election integrity” measure necessary to safeguard Texas elections from fraudulent votes.
President Joe Biden condemned the bill on Saturday calling it “wrong and un-American” and saying it is “part of an assault on democracy that we’ve seen far too often this year — and often disproportionately targeting Black and Brown Americans.”
