[Epoch Times] Texas Democrats abandoned the House floor on Sunday night in an effort to prevent the passage of a sweeping election overhaul bill that had already passed the state’s Senate.The Democrat lawmakers managed to defeat the bill temporarily by breaking the quorum needed to hold a final vote on the bill. According to the state’s House rules, at least 100 members were required to be present for the chamber to conduct business.
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who supports the bill, responded to the Democrat’s move in a statement on late Sunday, vowing to call a special session to revisit the bill.
"I declared Election Integrity and Bail Reform to be must-pass emergency items for this legislative session. It is deeply disappointing and concerning for Texans that neither will reach my desk. Ensuring the integrity of our elections and reforming a broken bail system remain emergencies in Texas. They will be added to the special session agenda. Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session," Abbott wrote.
State Rep. Chris Turner (D), the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, appeared to be the main impetus for the walkout. According to several media outlets, Turner had sent a text message informing other Democrats to "leave the chamber discreetly" ahead of the midnight deadline.
The bill was approved in the Senate largely along party lines after an overnight debate stretched into the morning of May 30, according to local media.
The measure would grant more power to poll watchers by giving them more access inside polling areas, while creating new penalties against election officials who restrict poll watchers’ movements. The proposal would also allow a judge to void the outcome of an election if the number of fraudulent votes could change the result.
Officials who send mail-in ballots to people who didn’t request them may also face criminal penalties, according to the bill.
President Joe Biden has also weighed in on the bill, characterizing the voting integrity law as an "attack" against the right to vote.