NBC News: Texas Republicans renew effort to advance voting bill as Democrats regroup

Texas Democrats failed on Monday in a last-ditch effort to again paralyze the state House and block Republicans from passing a sweeping election bill, allowing the legislature to continue working toward passage. …

The Texas House does not have a mask mandate, and House members who have tested positive for Covid-19 have been voting in person from a quarantine chamber just off the floor.

Significantly fewer people testified about the bill on Monday than they did in July, during a marathon Saturday hearing.

Many supporters of the legislation repeating unsubstantiated claims of significant voter fraud, while critics argued it was discriminatory, particularly to those with disabilities.

Stephanie Gómez, associated director of Common Cause Texas, said the bill would give partisan poll watchers “unhinged levels of influence over elections” and said the bill would make it harder for all Texans to vote, particularly voters of color and those with disabilities.

Her group also hosted what it called a “honk! for voting rights” protest, encouraging cars to circle the Capitol on Monday morning, hoping for a noisy show of dissent with social distancing baked in.