The NPR Politics Podcast Changes To Texas Voting Rules Worry Older Voters And Those With Disabilities
Mar 2, 2022
Ashley Lopez, a KUT reporter specializing in voting issues in Texas, joins the conversation to unpack new voting laws that have sparked confusion for many voters. She highlights how over 15,000 mail-in ballots were improperly completed, forcing some vulnerable Texans to vote in person. The discussion sheds light on the significant barriers faced by older voters and those with disabilities and the importance of better voter education. Lopez also touches on how these changes in Texas may reflect a broader national trend affecting election integrity.
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Older Voter Adapts to Changes
- Diane Hanson, a 74-year-old Austin resident, usually votes by mail.
- Hearing about mail ballot rejections, she voted in person due to concerns about new ID rules, highlighting the impact on older voters.
Discriminatory Impact of Voting Restrictions
- Drive-through and 24-hour voting, eliminated by Texas's new law, were disproportionately used by minority voters.
- Voting rights advocates are concerned about the discriminatory impact of these restrictions.
Voter Concerns about Scrutiny
- Some Texas voters with disabilities felt compelled to vote in person due to unclear criminal penalties for assistance and broader poll watcher authority.
- Lydia Nunes Landry expressed concern about increased scrutiny and potential for discrimination against people with disabilities.