Texas Voter Laws Sparked 38-Day Walkout: Trial Begins

A trial has begun over a Texas voting law that led to a 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021, as part of Republican efforts to pass new voting restrictions following former President Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election. The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of voting rights groups, challenges the law signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott. The trial could last weeks, and the outcome could impact the voting rules for the 2024 elections in Texas. The law includes measures such as a ban on 24-hour polling places and drive-thru voting, which have already taken effect. The law has faced criticism for disproportionately affecting Harris County, where Republican candidates are challenging their defeats from the previous year's elections. During the primary elections in March 2022, over 23,000 mail ballots were rejected due to the new rules, and although the rejection rate decreased in the general election, it remained higher than normal.