Thread by @beckerdavidj

/1 TX SB 1, passed yesterday, is indeed one of the least-justified laws passed in service to the Big Lie, but as many focus on the unnecessary provisions that restrict early and mail voting, there are several other aspects of the law that raise greater concerns for me.

/2 While TX is one of the least secure states for voting, due to it having the largest number of digital, non-paper ballots, and no effective audit requirements, SB 1 does nothing to address those deficiencies.

/3 In fact, SB 1 has an audit section requires "random" audits in only 4 of TX's 254 counties each election (which isn't a random audit). And you cannot conduct an effective audit without paper ballots. Best practices require a random statewide audit of the paper.

/4 But worse is what is IN SB 1. The bill injects unnecessary chaos into the election process, and criminalizes and restricts professional election administration by those most knowledgeable about the process and their voters - the election officials.

/5 SB 1 empowers partisan poll watchers to roam anywhere around the polling place, potentially interfering with the voting process and intimidating voters, and severely restricts, and even criminalizes, efforts by election workers to restore order.

/6 Particularly since SB 1 concentrates more voting on Election Day in polling places, and creating more of a potential for a single point of failure, this injection of chaos into the voting process is potentially disastrous, far beyond what's permitted in other states.

/7 SB 1 further criminalizes many efforts by election officials to make it easier for voters, or to provide them with information about their options, like an application for a mail ballot. Penalties for these public servants include large fines and jail time.

/8 This penalizing professional election administration by public servants is a trend in other states passing laws based on the Big Lie. @ElectionInnov is working on this, and will have a major announcement about this next week, so stay tuned.

/9 Oddly, SB 1 also opens the floodgates of litigation, providing for a private right of action on even the most minor of perceived deviations, and allowing for atty's fees. These petty lawsuits are likely to clog courts when they're needed for real election disputes.

/10 Without justification, SB 1 also creates a two-tiered and arbitrary system of req'ts of some of its provisions. Some provisions only apply to counties with 55K+ residents, others to 100K+, and others to 250K+. No idea whether equal protection issues were considered.

/11 Finally, SB 1 requires the TX SOS to promulgate a slew of new rules and regulations, and enforce a ton of new provisions. The only problem here -- TX SOS office is currently vacant, and there's no indication of if a new appointment will be made.

sos.state.tx.us/about/sosbio.s…

/12 TX SB 1 is a master class in how NOT to pursue election policy. NO consultation with election officials. NO bipartisanship. It fails to address the major security weakness in TX elections (digital ballots), and creates greater risk of chaos and lines on Election Day.

/13 As TX concentrates more voting on Election Day, and encourages chaos at polling locations, while failing to require paper ballots and effective audits, it is safe to say that TX has reduced the integrity of its election system, and remains among the least secure states. /END