AUSTIN, Texas -- More than 200 people signed up to testify against a bill that could send Texans to jail for voting crimes.
- Legislation is Senate Bill 9
- Opponents say it is voter suppression
- Passed Senate, now being debated in House
Opponents call Senate Bill 9 a voter suppression tool, arguing it could put a person in jail who makes an honest mistake on voter paperwork.
The measure passed the Texas Senate and now a House panel is debating the controversial bill that would create new rules related to the voting process, such as requiring non-family members fill out a form if helping a voter.
“Someone who is trying to assist me might have to fill out paperwork to verify that they’re not going to be one of the people buying or selling my vote,” said disabled voter Alex Birnel.
The legislation would also make it a felony for Texans who vote when they’re ineligible.
Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, is the House sponsor of the Senate bill. She said it’s simply about strengthening the integrity of Texas’ elections.
“What people don’t know is that there are criminal penalties for some of these activities already in the election code today, and this is an enhancement in many cases," Klick said.
But lawmakers who oppose the bill worry the language could put voters who’ve made accidental errors behind bars.
“That’s not the goal of increasing voter turnout and increasing voter participation in elections," said Rep. Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio.
Birnel, who works with a voter rights organization called MOVE Texas, said what needs to be addressed by lawmakers is the state's low voter turnout.
“We need to talk about modernizing our system - automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration,” Birnel said.
Opponents of the bill also worry about added hurdles for first-time voters, specifically those who’ve just recently gained U.S. citizenship and may not be familiar with the paperwork process.