Texas Senate Proposes Voting Bill That Seems Rather Redundant

Texas SB16, which is sponsored by several Republican lawmakers, will toss out yet another potential hoop for voters to jump through in order to vote in certain elections. And it could result in felony criminal penalties for elections officials who defy it.

The bill is designed to make voters prove their U.S. citizenship. You already have to be a citizen to vote in State and Federal elections.

However, this bill could kick some Texans off of voter rolls if they haven't "proven" their citizenship in a way that satisfies this bill's requirements.

According to the Texas Tribune, all 20 GOP senators signed on the bill, which could limit some voters to congressional elections only. Specifically, "voters who registered through a voter registration drive or by mail, rather than while obtaining a Texas driver's license or state ID through the Department of Public Safety."

That would mean those voters could only vote in House and Senate races. Those voters could not vote for president, "which experts say could invite a legal challenge."

Voter officials who "knowingly" allow a someone to vote who hasn't proven their U.S. citizenship could face steep penalties, as it would become a felony punishable by jail time.

Again, noncitizen voting is already illegal (and quite rare), so this legislation feels either redundant or that it serves another purpose than the one it claims to.

Arizona has already enacted laws like these, and it was found to disproportionality affect historically marginalized groups. I imagine that young people who registered to vote at social events will be affected, too.