Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has urged the state legislature to strengthen penalties for illegal voting. In a message to Texas Secretary of Senate Patsy Spaw on Thursday, Abbott called on state lawmakers to pass legislation to increase penalties for illegal voting.
This comes after the state reduced illegal voting to a Class A misdemeanor from a second degree felony as part of an elections reform bill, which was passed earlier this year. Abbott contended increasing penalties for illegal voting would send a clearer message about not tolerating voter fraud.
“Texas has made tremendous progress in upholding the integrity of our elections,” he expressed in a tweet. “Increasing penalties for illegal voting will send an even clearer message that voter fraud will not be tolerated in Texas.”
Thanks @GovAbbott for placing a correction to an amd. on #SB1, which decreases the penalty for voting illegally, on the call. The House added last minute & went under the radar until Gov., @TXAG & I found it & agreed then it must be corrected. The Senate will pass next week.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) September 30, 2021
Class A misdemeanors have penalties of up to a year in jail or a fine, while a penalty for a second degree felony could be up to 20 years in prison.
Source: One America News Network
