Abbott signs Texas law making it clear only US citizens can vote in state elections

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed legislation that reinforces the requirement that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in elections in the state. In a video posted online, Abbott stated, “I just signed off on a joint resolution to make it crystal clear under the Texas Constitution that if you are not a citizen of the United States of America, you are not allowed to vote in Texas.”

The resolution, known as Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 37, was introduced by Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell, a Republican, in January. It proposed a constitutional amendment to clarify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Texas elections. Prior to this resolution, the Texas constitution already prohibited individuals under the age of 18, those deemed mentally incompetent by a court, or convicted felons from voting.

The amendment included in SJR 37 adds a new category of individuals who are not allowed to vote in Texas elections – “persons who are not citizens of the United States.” The resolution was approved by the state senate in April and the state house in May before being signed by Governor Abbott on Monday.

However, the resolution still requires approval from Texas citizens in November in order to be officially ratified and included in the state constitution. This final step allows Texas voters to have the ultimate say on whether only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in elections in the state.

This move by Governor Abbott comes in the wake of a federal judge blocking an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that would have required documentary proof of citizenship before individuals could register to vote. The judge’s decision was in response to multiple lawsuits filed over the executive order, with some provisions being blocked while others were allowed to proceed.

Despite the legal challenges at the federal level, Texas is one of 25 states considering proof-of-citizenship legislation, according to the Voting Rights Lab. In fact, 15 state constitutions already explicitly prohibit non-citizen voting, showcasing a growing trend towards reinforcing the requirement for U.S. citizenship in elections.

Overall, Governor Abbott’s signing of the joint resolution and the upcoming referendum in November highlight the ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity of the voting process in Texas and ensure that only U.S. citizens have the right to participate in elections in the state.