Some Texas lawmakers want to ban countywide voting on Election Day. Local officials are pushing back.

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/03/texas-voting-countywide-election-day/

created by zsreport on 03/02/2025 at 11:47 UTC

338 upvotes, 13 top-level comments (showing 13)

Comments

Comment by No_Amoeba_9272 at 03/02/2025 at 12:14 UTC

209 upvotes, 1 direct replies

"Push by some Replican lawmakers" - can you guys fuck off and start representing the entire state instead of 3 billionaires.

Comment by zsreport at 03/02/2025 at 11:48 UTC

81 upvotes, 1 direct replies

A bit from the piece:

More than a dozen Texas counties are fighting a push by some Republican state lawmakers to get rid of a program that allows voters to cast their ballots at any county polling location on Election Day, arguing that the option saves taxpayers millions of dollars and makes voting more convenient.

County officials say it should be up to local leaders and election officials who best understand the needs of their communities to decide whether to offer countywide voting on Election Day.

Two bills have been filed to get rid of the option, which is allowed in 99 counties encompassing more than 80% of the state’s voters. Eliminating it would mean counties would almost certainly have to open, equip and staff more neighborhood voting sites, since Election Day voters would be able to vote only at their assigned precinct. In some counties, available facilities are also difficult to find.

Comment by virtualmentalist38 at 03/02/2025 at 13:46 UTC

26 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If we’re fortunate enough to have another actual election, we need to not have any excuses. Bring grandma to the polls, wait in that 6 hour line with your kid if it comes to that. Then if Dems are able to take power back in 2026 we can start fixing some of this and (re)expand voter access. It sucks, people can’t afford to take time off work and all kinds of things, but we absolutely cannot let this just go on unchecked. They’re showing their hand. They’re desperate and getting sloppy. So let’s put up with the bullshit long enough to put a stop to it. I understand that might come off as sounding privileged. I’m a trans woman and I don’t know what will happen with the whole identification thing they’re trying to do. I just know I’ll miss 2 days of work and sleep in line in a lawn chair at this point if I have to. I will not bow to fascism ever.

Comment by RedditPosterOver9000 at 03/02/2025 at 15:26 UTC

15 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This will be mostly directed at the cities, which are much more Democrat, and counties with larger black/Hispanic populations.

Remember Alabama creating new voter ID requirements and then immediately shutting down the DMVs in the black parts of the state?

Texas GOP has always been fairly transparent that they'll do anything to reduce democrat turnout and since Dems heavily concentrated in cities it makes the job easier. They make laws and say it only applies to towns and cities with populations over one million.

Comment by rubens_chopshop at 03/02/2025 at 15:09 UTC

8 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Texas Republicans used to be for straight ticket option on the voting until it didn’t work for them then they got rid of it. Now they wanna get rid of countywide voting at any location, cause it does not work for them. Trust me if it was working for them, they would keep it

Comment by Dan-68 at 03/02/2025 at 14:23 UTC

11 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Some Texas politicians want to ban voting completely now that they’re in office. /s

Comment by OriginalNail2071 at 03/02/2025 at 17:43 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Are the alarm bells ringing yet?

Comment by Worth_Middle_2238 at 03/02/2025 at 15:00 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

They're already working on restricting voting in the urban areas. Now, those in rural areas get to experience it.

Comment by Barailis at 03/02/2025 at 16:57 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

A well regulated milita, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Comment by WearHot3394 at 03/02/2025 at 16:59 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That's stupid. Why do this now. I can vote anywhere in Midland Texas churches, liberty, tax office. What is the issue now. You're just trying to make it harder for people of color to vote.

Comment by Plane-Investment-791 at 03/02/2025 at 17:11 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

If they want to do this then they need to give the money so we have enough early voting places. In a county of 1.3 million people (tarrant county) we only had 51 early voting locations.