Biden administration is suing Texas over its new voting law
The administration of US President Joe Biden is suing Texas over a state’s voting law that places strict curbs on voting by mail.
On Thursday, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Texas Senate Bill 1, arguing it violates voters' rights. The law signed by Governor Greg Abbott into law in September is set to get into effect Dec. 2.
The move is the latest effort by the Biden administration to combat new voting restrictions being enacted in Republican-controlled states across the nation.
The law makes it harder to cast ballots through the mail by preventing officials from sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications.
In addition, it adds new identification requirements for mail-in voting, prohibits drive-through and 24-hour voting locations and limits early voting.
The law also restricts who can help voters requiring assistance due to disabilities or language barriers.
The DOJ said its several provisions "will disenfranchise eligible Texas citizens who seek to exercise their right to vote."
Justice officials say those people include "voters with limited English proficiency, voters with disabilities, elderly voters, members of the military" who are deployed and American citizens who are out of the country.
"These vulnerable voters already confront barriers to the ballot box," the DOJ said, adding, "and SB 1 will exacerbate the challenges they face in exercising their fundamental right to vote."
State Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on Twitter, "Biden is coming after Texas for SB1, our recently enacted election integrity law. It's a great and a much-needed bill. Ensuring Texas has safe, secure, and transparent elections is a top priority of mine. I will see you in court, Biden!"
Abbott has previously said the law aimed to clamp down on voter fraud, with the state’s officials citing former president Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in their opposition to expanding voting access.
On Thursday afternoon, the governor responded to the lawsuit in a tweet, saying, "Bring it. The Texas election integrity law is legal. It INCREASES hours to vote. It does restrict illegal mail ballot voting. Only those who qualify can vote by mail. It also makes ballot harvesting a felony. In Texas it is easier to vote but harder to cheat."
This is now the second time that the DOJ has sued a state over voting rights. In June, the DOJ sued Georgia for its new voting law, alleging it targets Black voters.
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