Texas House Democrats file lawsuit to fight homecoming to vote on electoral reforms

Nearly two dozen Texas House Democrats who fled to Washington, DC last month to thwart GOP-backed electoral reforms sued top Republicans in the state who they said violated their rights in the steps taken to bring them home to vote.

The lawsuit, filed by 22 Democratic lawmakers in federal court in Austin, Texas on Friday night, coincided with the last day of the first special session called by Governor Greg Abbott and preceded a second special legislative session set to begin Saturday. Abbott, Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and State Representative James White have been named accused in the lawsuit.

THE TEXAS LEISURE THAT HAS RUN IN DC WON’T REVEAL IF IT’S ON HOLIDAY

Texas Democrats challenged the first session that began on July 8 over the “integrity of elections” item on the agenda. Dozens of members of the Democratic minority traveled to Washington in an attempt to block the legislative agenda by preventing the chamber from reaching a quorum, prompting the governor to threaten an appearance upon his return from the protracted protest.

Abbott ordered a second 30-day special legislative session on Thursday in a new attempt to pass GOP-backed voting legislation after more than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled the state.

The lawsuit alleges that the three defendants sought “by public statements and otherwise, to attempt to deny, coerce, threaten, intimidate and prevent” Democratic lawmakers and their constituents of their right to “vote in all elections,” “to to assemble peacefully to redress their grievances “,” to speak publicly about the exercise of their constitutional rights “,” of association “,” security of the person “and” the right not to be arrested except for probable cause, supported by an oath or solemn affirmation “.

The lawsuit, which claims the defendants conspired together, also says the plaintiffs “individually complain of retaliatory attacks, threats and attempted coercion related to the exercise of their First Amendment rights.”

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Democrats are seeking $ 5 in actual damages and $ 10 in punitive damages. Abbott and Phelan did not immediately comment on the lawsuit; White said he didn’t know why he was included as a defendant, according to the Texas Tribune.

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The voting reforms Republicans wanted became a hot topic after the 2020 election, when states in all countries implemented policy changes, such as expanding early and postal voting, to cope to the coronavirus pandemic.

Critics of the GOP have raised concerns about the security of the election, while Democrats who oppose Republican-backed changes to the voting process warn they could deny voters the right to vote, especially the minorities.

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Keywords: News, Texas, Elections 2020, DC, Elections 2022, Law, Campaigns, Democratic Party, Greg Abbott

Original author: Michel Brest

Original location: Texas House Democrats file lawsuit to fight homecoming to vote on electoral reforms