Texas Lawmakers Racing Against Clock to Pass Bill Aimed at Curbing Mail-in Vote Fraud

AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers are trying to implement legislation that would curb mail-in ballot fraud at nursing homes.The House bill and its Senate companion would amend the Election Code to allow election judges to collect mail-in ballots directly from voters at nursing homes or similar facilities.The new process would prevent political operatives from requesting mail-in ballots for unsuspecting seniors or the infirm and then returning to the facility to pick up the ballots before they reach the voter. It would also make it unnecessary for a person other than an election judge to help a nursing home resident vote.Nursing homes that have more than five mail-in ballot requests would be put on a list maintained by the secretary of state's office. Election officials would then be notified to send two eligible judges, one Republican and one Democrat, to collect the ballots."We're taking the post office and we're taking it to the voter," said Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress. "Not only will the elderly be less likely to have their votes taken from them and harvested, they are more likely to be able to vote."But the bill, which has bipartisan support, is up against the clock and may not get approved before the legislative session ends on Memorial Day. Both the House and Senate bills have received committee approval, but they have yet to reach the House or Senate floor.Oliverson said that he would try to get the contents of the bill tacked on as an amendment to other legislation, if necessary."This is a problem everybody shares," he said. "This is not unique to one party."The bill comes amid a streak of potential mail-in voter fraud in this month's Dallas City Council races.  Continue reading...