Texas Democrats flee state to block Republican voting law

Democrats in the Texas legislature have left their state en masse in an effort to prevent Republicans there from passing a restrictive new voting law.

The move will temporarily paralyse the state’s House of Representatives, which requires at least two-thirds of lawmakers be present for a vote.

At least 50 House Democrats boarded flights to Washington DC on Monday, US media report.

The move comes amid a wave of voting restrictions in Republican-led states.

An important first vote on the sweeping voting legislation proposed by Texas Republicans had been planned for later this week.

The bill would outlaw 24-hour polling places and drive-through voting, ban ballot drop boxes and expand the authority of partisan poll watchers.

The House lawmakers took off from Austin on private planes on Monday afternoon – the first time since 2003 that state Democrats have left Texas to break quorum. They could stay in Washington for weeks, US media report.

Top Texas Democrat Chris Turner said in a statement: “We are now taking the fight to our nation’s Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas.”

The fleeing lawmakers do so under threat of arrest. Under Texas law, legislators can be legally compelled to return to the state capital in Austin.

In response to the exodus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican, said in a statement that the House would use “every available resource” to secure a quorum.

The Democrats’ action also hopes to put pressure on Washington lawmakers and US President Joe Biden, who is facing calls from activists to do more at the federal level to protect voting rights. Mr Biden, a Democrat, is scheduled to deliver a major speech on the issue on Tuesday, in Philadelphia.

This marks the second time in six weeks that Texas Democrats have used a walk-out as a delay tactic.

In May, state Democrats left the state House hours before the regular legislative session ended. Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, called the current 30-day special session in response.

But with Republicans in control of both the Texas House and Senate, Democrats’ options are limited. If they do remain outside the state for the duration of the current special session, Governor Abbott can simply call a new one.