Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has signed an election integrity bill into law today—one that had sent Democrats running from the state in July in an attempt to block its passage.
Election integrity is now LAW in Texas.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 7, 2021
This law:
▪️ Ensures every eligible voter gets to vote
▪️ Adds more hours to vote
▪️ Makes it harder for fraudulent votes to be cast
▪️ Makes ballot harvesting a 3rd degree felony
Bottom line: it's easier to vote & harder to cheat. pic.twitter.com/p9IDQg95IK
BREAKING: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed SB1 into law, which Democrats fled the state in order to try and stop:
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 7, 2021
“Election integrity is now law in the state of Texas.”
pic.twitter.com/HFhEefxz5a
In a press release, the Texas Governor highlighted key features of the new law:
Senate Bill 1 creates uniform statewide voting hours, maintains and expands voting access for registered voters that need assistance, prohibits drive-through voting, and enhances transparency by authorizing poll watchers to observe more aspects of the election process. The bill also bans the distribution of unsolicited applications for mail-in ballots and gives voters with a defective mail-in ballot the opportunity to correct the defect.
In an article by the Hill, the Governor also stated, “[o]ne thing that all Texas can agree and that is that we must have trust and confidence in our elections . . . [the bill] ensures that every eligible voter will have the opportunity to vote.”
While Democrats claim that SB1 constitutes voter suppression, sponsors of the legislation indicate that it actually expands voting access and tackles concerns about fraud. Co-author of SB1, Bryan Hughes, told Fox News; "[h]ow much fraud is OK? None. How much suppression is okay? None."
Governor Abbott and others in support of Senate Bill 1 simply describe it as legislation that "makes it easier to vote and harder to cheat."
Today I join Gov. @GregAbbott_TX, Lt. Gov. @DanPatrick, Rep. Murr and others in Tyler, Tx, as the Governor signs #SB1, the Texas Election Integrity Bill, into law.
— Senator Bryan Hughes (@SenBryanHughes) September 7, 2021
I am honored to carry this legislation that makes it easy to vote and hard to cheat. #txlege pic.twitter.com/G60lWvwjx0
#SB1, the Election Integrity Bill, has been signed into law!
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) September 7, 2021
By making it easier to vote and harder to cheat, we have dramatically improved elections across Texas. A giant win for our state. https://t.co/s6HxKkzWgi#txlege pic.twitter.com/0HWwk4XAqi
“This bill is about two things. Making it easier for qualified voters to vote and harder to cheat,” explains @AngelaPaxtonTX on #CPACNOW with @mercedesschlapp #electionintegrity pic.twitter.com/gZMV4SPHfp
— CPAC 2022 (@CPAC) September 2, 2021
Democrats have already made SB1 the subject of several lawsuits. This does not come as a surprise, given that partisan legal battles over voting laws have been erupting across the country since the 2020 presidential election.
Regardless, SB1 is a big win for Texas and for the future of fair elections in the United States. The law is set to become effective in time for the 2022 primary elections.