GOP working over time to supress the vote

[Demovictory9]

https://www.news-journal.com/news/elections/hughes-election-security-bill-passes-in-senate/article_fe800424-5ca7-11e9-9154-ef839b88c0b3.html

East Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes’ signature bill on election security won passage Monday in the Texas Senate and moves to the House of Representatives for debate.

Senate Bill 9 creates a paper trail for electronic voting.

It also takes aim at voter fraud that can occur when people who help disabled voters try to influence how they vote.

It enhances the penalty for making a false statement on a mail ballot application from a misdemeanor to state jail felony and requires those who help voters who are not family members to sign a form documenting their role.

The bill also would require people who help disabled voters cast a mail-in ballot officially certify that the voter they help is physically unable to enter a poll without risk to harm. In addition, it allows poll watchers to accompany both the voter and helper into the voting area.

“The heart of the bill is that paper ballot, that paper backup,” Hughes, R-Mineola, said as he urged passage of the measure. “This is not a partisan issue. ... It says if you’re going to bring someone to the polls and help them cast their ballot ... then, yes. We want to know your names.”

Hughes chaired a Select Committee on Election Security last summer in preparation for the legislative session that opened in January. Many of the provisions in his Senate Bill 9, he told senators, came from sworn testimony from Democrats and Republicans.

The bill passed on a 19-12 vote along party lines.

“For whatever reason, the national Democrats made this a lightning rod,” he said. “Election integrity is important to all of us.”


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The bill would require someone who drives people to the polls and asks that a voting machine be brought to the vehicle for its disabled occupants sign a statement saying who they are and why the voter they brought needed assistance.

Hughes’ bill also orders election judges to not accept voter registration forms that are prefilled out. That’s because those often arrive at the voter’s home with boxes saying the applicant is 18 years or older and is an American prechecked.

Critics of the bill said someone could be guilty of a crime by turning in one of those prefilled-out applications, and Hughes on Monday said those registration applications will be barred from use.

“It cannot be accepted if (those boxes were) prechecked,” he said. “There are no changes in this bill that would provide a trap for the unwary, or a ‘gotcha.’”

Hughes also defended the increased penalties for “knowingly” committing voter fraud, saying more district attorneys are likely to prosecute the crime if more serious penalties are attached. The change raises the maximum jail time from one year to two, and it boosts the maximum fine from $4,000 to $10,000.

Also, the bill establishes a civil avenue for people who suspect they have been wronged by voter fraud to sue those they feel are responsible.

[elleng]

1. Nothing new. Are we ever prepared/able to address?

[Demovictory9]

2. ...

[elleng]

3. That's the problem,

[murielm99]

4. My husband helps a disabled man vote.

They go to the polling place together. Basically, all my husband does is fill in the ovals for the man. The man has right-side paralysis. My husband has to fill out paperwork before every election. The election judges and the county clerk are well acquainted with my husband. And I am sure he is not the only person in the county who helps in this way.

Knowing how much help some people need, and knowing my kind husband, I would hate to see anyone get in trouble for being a good Samaritan.

Fuck these repuggies. All of them.

[mitch96]

5. Yup, if they can't win legal fair and square.........

They cheat... Oh... they call it politics.. eh?
m