The new Republican laws will make most voting activities in Texas harder, except for poll watching. Their goals are intimidation of election workers, suppression of voters, and retaliation against Harris county, which led the state in 2020 in making it easier for people to vote: more polls for those who lacked transportation, voting polls with interpreters for specific languages, and new conveniences for the elderly, shift workers, people who were ill or nervous about the pandemic, etc.
- It will be harder for voters and voter registrars to verify citizenship on voter registration forms. Voters will need to prove that they are citizen or risk—if they make a mistake—being removed from the official voter rolls.
- These conveniences will disappear:
Drive-through voting (No more NRG voting in bad weather and a pandemic.)
Drop boxes for mail-in/absentee ballots (We’ll have to trust the post office.)
24-hour voting locations (No more convenience for people who work nights.)
Fewer early voting hours