(DailyChive.com) – Texas advances a bill allowing election judges to carry firearms at polling stations amid growing security concerns for election workers.
At a Glance
- House Bill 1128 would permit election judges to carry firearms at polling sites, amending current Texas law
- The legislation passed the Texas House with a vote of 85-57 and now moves to the Senate
- Republican Rep. Carrie Isaac introduced the bill in response to threats against poll workers
- The right to carry would only apply to election judges, not other election workers or voters
- If passed by the Senate, Governor Greg Abbott could sign it into law by September 1
Safety Concerns Drive New Legislation
Election security has taken center stage in Texas as House Bill 1128 makes its way through the legislature. The bill, which would allow election judges to carry firearms at polling places, passed the Texas House and now awaits Senate consideration. Current Texas law prohibits firearms at polling locations during elections, but growing concerns about election worker safety have prompted lawmakers to reconsider these restrictions for election judges, who are responsible for maintaining order at polling stations.
Representative Carrie Isaac, a Republican from Dripping Springs who introduced the bill, pointed to escalating threats against election workers as the driving force behind the legislation. The proposal specifically targets election judges, who have authority to resolve disputes at polling locations and are appointed by the political party that received the most votes in the previous gubernatorial election.
Republican Support vs. Democratic Opposition
The legislation has largely divided along party lines, with Republicans supporting the measure as a necessary security precaution and Democrats expressing concerns about intimidation and escalation. The bill aligns with a 2018 opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which suggested election judges should be allowed to carry firearms similar to district judges. If passed by the Senate and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, the law would take effect September 1.
“Some workers even quit mid-election out of fear for their safety. These are not isolated incidents. They are happening across Texas, and our workers are mostly volunteers giving their time to serve their communities. If we expect them to uphold the integrity of our elections, we must do our part.” – Republican state Representative Carrie Isaac.
The legislative proposal expressly limits the permission to carry firearms to election judges only. Other election workers and the general public would still be prohibited from bringing weapons to polling locations. Supporters argue this targeted approach would provide security without unnecessarily militarizing polling places, while still addressing legitimate safety concerns faced by those responsible for maintaining order.
Concerns About Potential Intimidation
Democrats and voting rights advocates have raised significant concerns about the bill, suggesting that armed election judges could create an intimidating atmosphere for voters. Some critics have pointed to Texas’s history of voter intimidation and racial discrimination at polling places as reasons for caution. They argue that introducing firearms into the election environment might discourage participation, particularly among minority voters who may already face barriers to voting.
“Do you really think arming someone with a firearm to combat someone with a water bottle is not escalating the situation?” – Democratic state Representative Maria Luisa Flores.
Some experts have suggested that professional law enforcement would be better equipped to handle security concerns at polling places. Professor David Rosenbloom expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the proposal, suggesting that trained peace officers with de-escalation skills would be more appropriate for preventing intimidation and violence than armed election judges who may lack such training.
Alternative Security Measures Proposed
Several Democratic lawmakers have proposed alternative solutions to address security concerns at polling locations. San Antonio Democratic Representative Barbara Gerbin-Hawkins suggested increasing law enforcement presence at polling places instead of arming election judges. However, Representative Isaac countered that there aren’t enough officers available to station at every polling location, making her proposal a more practical solution.
“Arming election judges will not make Texas voting places safer or prevent partisan or racial voter intimidation. Election officials and voters will be better protected by laws and policies to prevent partisan poll watchers and unappointed individuals from harassing them and voters. Peace officers trained in de-escalation techniques are much more likely to prevent intimidation and violence than untrained election judges with a gun.” – Professor David Rosenbloom.
Isaac maintains that the mere presence of armed election judges could serve as a deterrent to potential aggressors. In debates on the House floor, she emphasized that the legislation is intended to protect everyone at polling locations, not just election workers. With the bill now headed to the Texas Senate, the debate continues over whether arming election judges will enhance or undermine the safety and integrity of the democratic process in the Lone Star State.
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