Houston mayor denounces voting restrictions likely to pass in Texas

Monday, April 5, 2021

Bills dishonor those who died for voting rights, Turner says

In the video, Houston Mayor Turner takes Texas lawmakers to task over the proposed bills that would change voting laws, specifically those that made voting accessible to people of color and those with disabilities.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Mayor Sylvester Turner hit at a GOP-led effort that lawmakers say protects the integrity of Texas ballots, but what leaders around Houston believe do nothing but suppress the right to vote.

Turner was joined by leaders including Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday.

Multiple major corporations based in Texas have already spoken out in opposition to Republican-led legislative proposals to further restrict voting in Texas.

Corporate giant American Airlines took specific aim at Senate Bill 7, which would impose sweeping restrictions that take particular aim at local efforts meant to make it easier to vote - like extended early voting hours. Senate Republicans advanced that measure in a vote last week.

Another voting proposal that's caused controversy is House Bill 6, which prohibits local election officials from proactively sending out applications for mail-in ballots and impose new rules for people assisting voters to fill out their ballots.

Both measures are legislative priorities for Texas Republicans, who this year are mounting a broad campaign to scale up the state's already restrictive voting rules and pull back on local voting initiatives championed in diverse urban centers, namely in Harris County, during a high-turnout election in which Democrats continued to drive up their margins. That push echoes national legislative efforts by Republicans to change voting rules after voters of color helped flip key states to Democratic control.

The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.

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