Published on :
–
In Texas, hundreds of mail-in ballot requests have been rejected. A month and a half before the primary for the midterm elections in Texas, election officials have been sounding the alarm since the application of the new Texas electoral law, one of the most restrictive in the United States.
With our correspondent in Houston, Thomas Harms
For the authorities of the big cities of Texas, held by the Democrats, what the Republicans call securing the elections is akin to the suppression of the right to vote.
« Right now, voters are asking for mail-in ballot applications in Texas and they’re being rejected at an alarming rate. Somewhere between 25 and 50% “Explains Kristy Noble is the leader of the Democratic Party in Dallas. 50% of requests for postal votes in Austin, 20% in Houston.
The law that came into force under pressure from supporters of Donald Trump, believing that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from them, limits postal voting to those over 65, people with disabilities, and those who justify not being present during the advance vote nor on the day of the vote. But this law also requires proof of identity for any request to vote by mail. Namely a driver’s license number or a social security number. This number must be the same as the one given during electoral registration.
A way to limit the number of voters for Republicans
« Voters registered on the lists say 20 years ago using their social security number. If they now enter their driver’s license number, their request for a corresponding vote is rejected., tells Kristy Noble. Republicans want to limit the number of people who vote by mail, because too many people voted this way in 2020, and we had a record turnout in Texas in 2020. »
At the same time, 11,000 people received letters asking them to prove their nationality within 30 days. More than 2,300 did not respond in time and were therefore removed from the electoral lists. After investigation by the Texas authorities, more than 2,000 were Americans.
► Read also: United States: new controversial laws come into force in Texas
– .
