Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has reportedly signed civil arrest warrants on Tuesday for Democratic lawmakers who fled the state last month to prevent a quorum needed to pass a new voting bill put forward by Republicans.

Phelan signed civil arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats. Phelan said the warrants would be delivered to the House Sergeant-at-Arms on Wednesday morning for service, Fox News reported.

The Texas House had voted 80-12 to issue the warrants after the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the Democrats could be civilly detained. The state's Supreme Court on Monday overturned a district court decision blocking the warrants.

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Arrest Warrants for Texas Democratic Lawmakers

Democrats who may be arrested would not face criminal charges or fines and could only be brought to the House chamber, Texas Tribune reported. The order by the all-GOP court came at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Phelan.

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie said it was within the rights of the legislators to break quorum to protect their constituents. Turner, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, said they are fighting with everything they have against Republicans' attack on their freedom to vote.

Members earlier authorized state officials to track down the lawmakers that fled the state. However, the move has no bearing as Texas law enforcement lacks jurisdiction outside the state.

Phelan previously signed one civil arrest warrant addressed to Rep. Philip Cortez. However, it came too late as Cortez, who briefly returned to Austin, has already gone back to the nation's capital.

A number of the House Democrats have already returned to Texas. However, they have not come to the House floor to help provide a quorum.

Rep. Evelina "Lina" Ortega said it was a shame that the governor and Republicans are using the dirtiest tactic available to them. She noted that it's all about a power grab.

Texas Voting Bill

Last month, Abbott called the legislature into a special session to discuss a measure that House Democrats had blocked.

Some of the most significant changes in the Texas legislation involve partisan poll watchers, giving them new access, protections, and power under the proposed bill.

The legislation would make it a crime for an election official to reject a poll watcher who meets the qualifications for the position, Associated Press reported.

It rolls back ways that made it easier for people, especially in Democratic counties, to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

It would also ban the use of drop boxes for mail ballots, mailing of absentee ballot applications to all qualified voters, and drive-thru voting. It would also restrict the use of 24-hour voting locations.

Republicans claimed that these procedures were only used during a pandemic and should not be regular voting features in the senate. Republicans in Texas have also been eyeing tightening regulations on mail voting.

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This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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