Weeks after Texas lawmakers reduce illegal voting penalty, Gov. Greg Abbott asks them to increase it
AUSTIN — After outcries from tea party activists in his party, Gov. Greg Abbott has added a new subject to the agenda of the year’s third special legislative season: increasing penalties for illegal voting back to where they were before he signed an “election integrity” bill earlier this month.
Although “Texas has made tremendous progress in upholding the integrity of our elections,” the Legislature needs to return the punishments for illegal voting to a minimum of two years in prison, and possibly 20, Abbott said in a message to the Senate late Wednesday.
In the new law, slated to kick in on Dec. 2, maximum confinement will be one year in jail.
“By increasing penalties for illegal voting, we will send an even clearer message that voter fraud will not be tolerated in Texas,” Abbott said as he added his eighth topic to the “call” of the overtime gathering.
Lawmakers are mostly preoccupied with redistricting. On Monday the session, which can last no more than 30 days, will reach the halfway point.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/09/30/weeks-after-texas-lawmakers-reduce-illegal-voting-penalty-gov-greg-abbott-asks-them-to-increase-it/