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 changes signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott. The trial's outcome could impact the voting rules for the 2024 elections in Texas, although any decision is likely to be appealed. The law includes a ban on 24-hour polling places and drive-thru voting, with many changes targeting Harris County. During the rollout of the law, over 23,000 mail ballots were rejected in the March 2022 primary elections, and the rejection rate remained higher than normal in the November general election.