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Texas Voting Regulations
The state of Texas has been criticized for the new voting restriction that has been put in
place. People think these new voting laws are extremely restrictive, while some think they are
not. It's the third time the Republicans have tried to pass these laws that restrict when and how
people vote. The Democrats have been attempting to delay the bill's passing through quorum
breaks, but Texas has joined other states that have passed voting restrictions. The new voting
laws signed by Governor Greg Abbot to tighten election laws are early in-person voting, the
banning of the mail-in ballot, and the banning of drive-thru voting (Summers & Sprunt). This
section will determine whether the new voting laws are restrictive or not.
Absentee ballots, mail-in ballots, are only present to registered voters aged sixty-five
years or older who are ill or disabled or will not be in their home state on the day of the election
day. All mail-in voters are supposed to provide identification documents during voter registration
and to the return carrier on voting day. Those eligible for mail-in voting are supposed to request
ballots for future voting by mail or in person. By mail, voters should apply for a ballot online and
ask the early county voting clerk to mail them the application. Once voting is done, you must
send it back to the county voting clerk. By in person submit your application in person to the
county voting clerk (Ura). All mail-in voters should provide the following verification
documents Texas driver's license, Texas ID number, or the election Identification document
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certificate. All voters should ensure that the name on the return carrier mail matches the one on
the voter registration list, or it will be a rejected ballot.
Voters voting in person are supposed to vote at the early voting sites in their home
counties. Voters can view these early voting locations and hours at the secretary of state web
portal (Ura). Voting hours will vary by county, but it should occur between six and ten in the
morning. Polls will be open for twelve hours each weekday in the second week of voting for
counties with more than 55,000 residents. Twenty-four-hour early voting and drive-thru voting
have been banned in these new laws. On the day of the general elections, voting will begin at
seven in the morning and end at the same time in the evening. For in-person voters to vote, they
must present one of the even acceptable forms of identification document photo for verification.
Voters without an identification document photo can fill out a document of declaration where
they must present a copy of their birth certificate, utility bill, check, or current bank statement.
Voters with all the needed documents at home can still cast a provisional ballot. They will have
up to six days to avail those documents at the county registrar; if they do, their vote will count.
Those opposing these new voting laws believe that the regulations will rachet up mail-in
ballots rules in a place where it is limited and grant poll observers freedom in polling stations.
They also believe that the new voting laws have imposed criminal penalties on voter assistants
(Lopez). In addition, the distribution of mail-in ballots by elections officials has been declared a
state jail felony even if the voters are qualified to vote by mail. Finally, they claim it targets
Democratic Harris, the densely populated county in Texas, by banning voting initiatives used by
most people of color.
Some opponents of these laws claim that these new laws are very restrictive and prohibit
citizens their right to vote. They claim that many people can't access this identification
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document, and demanding them to have them on election day violates their voting rights as
United States citizens. In addition, they claim that asking for proof of citizenship is unneeded
and is a disadvantage to marginalized groups. According to Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO of Voto
Latino, these laws are designed to prevent the Tejanos from exercising their citizenship (Ura). As
a result, she filed a federal lawsuit in Austin.
The new voting rules intend to instill trust and credibility in the elections. These new
laws will prevent the likelihood of voter and election fraud occurring (Summers & Sprunt).
Demanding a photo of the identification documents and proof of evidence ensures that only
legitimate voters cast their ballots, which is crucial in ensuring free and fair elections. These new
rules are not very restrictive, and any citizen interested in voting can obtain these identification
documents and proof of citizenship documents. According to Governor Greg Abbott, this new
bill will help achieve trust and confidence in the elections. These laws also work in other states,
so they work in Texas.
The new voting laws in the state of Texas are not restrictive. The rules are basic,
requiring residents of Texas to have primary identification documents and proof of citizenship
which every American should possess. Any citizen interested in voting in voting can make time
to visit the polling centers and cast their vote within the allocated time. These rules are logical,
and every Texas resident should adhere to them.
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Works Cited
Lopez, Ashley. “Here’s What the March 1 Primary Taught Us about Texas’ New Voting Law.”
KUT, 7 Mar. 2022, https://www.kut.org/politics/2022-03-07/heres-what-the-march-1-
primary-taught-us-about-texas-new-voting-law.
Summers, Juana, and Barbara Sprunt. “Texas Election Workers Provide Practical and Emotional
Support to Confused Voters.” NPR, 27 Feb. 2022,
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/27/1082821390/texas-election-workers-provide-practical-
and-emotional-support-to-confused-voter.
Ura, Alexa. “Texas Voting Bill Signed into Law by Gov. Greg Abbott.” The Texas Tribune, 7
Sept. 2021, https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/01/texas-voting-bill-greg-abbott/.
