I am generally disinterested in the state politics of states other than my own. Howeer, I would like to ask a question about Texas’s pending election reform bill which has been much in the news lately. Who is correct? Is it President Biden who calls the bill an “assault on democracy” or is it the editors of the Wall Street Journal who say it’s imperfect but reasonable adjustment to a post-pandemic country?
I don’t have an opinion other than to suspect it’s a case of politics as usual with both sides exaggerating the bill’s flaws or benefits mutatis mutandis for political purposes.
I guess the only one to objectively look at things is some of what the WSJ does, which is to point out that Texas law would be consistent or more voter friendly than other states like Delaware. The Democrats’ complaints all appear to be directional.
Another way to look at it would be whether the bills Biden is promoting would change anything. I don’t see anything in HR1 that requires 24 hour voting; I see a minimum of 10 hours at polling places.
Texas also appears to be to the “left” of Joe Manchin, who doesn’t want to require states to be open for early voting more than six days a week. Texas wants seven days, but only after 1 PM on Sundays. Manchin thinks a good bipartisan bill can be passed on points of agreement.
I think the question is whether the Democratic leadership wants the issue more than the bills. Bill Scher has pointed out that older voters are most hurt by reduced opportunities to vote. An optimal political position for Democrats might be to galvanize the Democratic base with fear that the election is being rigged, when in reality Republican state legislatures are harming their own potential base of support.
I suspect you are right that it is neither as bad nor good as portrayed. I dont know if you should compare it to 2020 Texas law or to Delaware, but since it is a Texas law I think probably 2020 Texas makes more sense. I do know that it was supposed to cut polling places in high population ie minorities dominated counties. The Texas legislature I was listening to this morning says the 1PM on Sunday thing was a mistake. Lets see if they correct it.
All that said, I do think you have to be suspicious when people propose laws to fix something that is not broken. When that happens I think you should suspect the worst.
Steve