Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick falsely calls opponents of voter fraud bill a 'nest of liars'
Dan Patrick is lashing out so people won't take a look at what's in those bills. But they are really bad.
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AUSTIN — In a far-reaching news conference Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lashed out against opponents of the Senate’s voter fraud bill, including American Airlines, the news media and Democrats, calling them a “nest of liars” who were “race baiting” for political gain.
“Senate Bill 7 is about voter security, not about voter suppression,” Patrick said. “I’m tired of the lies and the nest of liars who continue to repeat them.”
More: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/04/06/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-says-opponents-of-voter-fraud-bill-are-nest-of-liars/
Texas Capitol Correspondent Wes Rappaport reported that Speaker of the House Dale Phelan said he planned to call business leaders voicing concerns about House Bill 6, and have them pull up the bill & "point to me where in that bill they see voter suppression." So Texas Civil Rights Staff Attorney Emily Eby decided to do just that with the Senate version of the bill, SB7.
So Staff Attorney Emily Eby with the Texas Civil Rights Project decided to make sure folks could read the language of SB7 for themselves.
#1-4 and #5-8
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#1
First, the restriction on 24-hour voting: Preventing counties from choosing their own early voting hours prevents flexibility needed in counties with large populations of voters who are Black, indigenous, or other people of color, many of whom are in the jobs without benefits and are unable to take off to vote. Especially if they have children to care for after work.
#2
Second, the vote-by-mail gag rule: banning election officials publicizing the opportunity to vote by mail for older voters, voters with disabilities, and others who might need to vote by mail.
Also, take a look at c. Proof of disability would be required to be able to vote by mail, from a doctor or social security administration or similar.
#3
Third, the free reign of poll watchers:
Party-appointed partisan poll watchers will be able to watch voting, move around to observe election officials and voters. Interference with their movements (except where the law prohibits it) is a misdemeanor offense, and watchers would be entitled to injunctive relief. But wait, there’s more…
#4
Fourth, the poll-watcher-as-filmmaker: The watcher would be allowed to record video (or audio) in the polling place. (They may not record a voter’s ballot however.)
The watcher may text photos or videos taken during their service hours to the Secretary of State’s Office.
#5
Fifth, the new form for voter assistants who help a voter with a disability, reading, or language will require additional information such as any assistant’s relationship to the voter. Texas has a history of prosecuting people who fill out voting forms incorrectly.
#6
Sixth, the new formula for polling places (targets the five largest counties in the state, which have a lot of BIPOC): (Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color)
#7
Seventh, restrictions on drive-thru voting: Polling locations must be inside a building.
#8
Eighth, also restrictions on drive-thru voting! No polling place may be in a parking garage, parking lot, or tent.
#9-12
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#9
Ninth, rule against donations to help run elections which often challenge county budgets in high interest elections: Donations over $1,000 to help pay for running elections are only allowable if the Secretary of State gives written permission.
#10
Tenth, the new fine for registrars: A $100 penalty per mistake that the Secretary of State has to correct.
#11
Eleventh, making SURE that no one is voting conveniently: Anything that would permit straight-ticket or one-motion voting is banned. (Straight ticket voting takes about a third of the amount of time that individual item voting takes, slowing voting lines.)
#12
Twelfth, “let them just purge those “undesirable” voters.” Registrars receiving a list of possible non-citizens from the DPS must mail each potential non-citizen who has registered, and require them to submit a certified birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or be dropped. Yet DPS citizenship data is often years out of date.
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Used with permission.
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