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• Republicans say Texas’ new political maps are “race blind.” To some voters of color, that translates as political invisibility.

  by Alexa Ura Oct. 20, 2021

  With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans send Gov. Greg Abbott a new congressional map that protects GOP power, reduces influence of voters of color

  by Alexa Ura Oct. 18, 2021

  After a few last-minute alterations, the state's new congressional districts are drawn and await the scrutiny of federal courts. Already, one lawsuit has been filed claiming the new maps intentionally discriminate against Latino voters. Full Story 

• First lawsuit filed challenging new Texas political maps as intentionally discriminatory

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Oct. 18, 2021

  Before they’re even signed into law, the state’s new maps for congressional and statehouse districts have been challenged in federal court by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Full Story 

• Texas congressional map heads into last-minute negotiations as Democrats decry shortage of Hispanic representation

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Oct. 17, 2021

  Though people of color drove nearly all of Texas’ population gains in the last decade, the proposed map gives white voters control of both of the two new congressional districts the state earned. Full Story 

• Lawmakers send to Gov. Greg Abbott new political maps that would further solidify the GOP’s grip on the Texas Legislature

  by James Barragán and Alexa Ura Oct. 15, 2021

  The redistricting plans for the House, Senate and State Board of Education were approved Friday. Full Story 

• With surgical precision, Republicans draw two congressional districts that dilute power of Hispanic and Asian voters

  by Alexa Ura and Mandi Cai Oct. 15, 2021

  The GOP is losing its hold on suburbs of Dallas and Fort Worth as they grow more diverse. Two proposed districts show how far the party is reaching to entrench rural, white electoral power. Full Story 

• Texas Senate takes another run at supposed election fraud, approving audits of 2020 results and tougher illegal voting penalties

  by Alexa Ura Oct. 5, 2021

  The bills reflect GOP efforts to further tighten voting laws, and pressure from former President Donald Trump on Texas Republicans to help advance his baseless election fraud claims. They are not expected to go far in the House. Full Story 

• Texas appears to be paying a secretive Republican political operative $120,000 annually to work behind the scenes on redistricting

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 29, 2021

  Adam Foltz, now on the Texas payroll, played a key role in Wisconsin's redistricting last decade. A federal court threw out some of the maps and called the effort Foltz was involved in "an all but shameful attempt to hide the redistricting process from public scrutiny." Full Story 

• Days after disclosing election “audits” in four Texas counties, secretary of state’s office gives some details of their scope

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 28, 2021

  The state agency last week announced a “full forensic audit” in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties. But based on details released Tuesday, it appears the scope of the effort may be more limited than what the term may suggest. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans have the redistricting tools to preserve their power. Here's how they can do it.

  by Alexa Ura and Jason Kao Sept. 20, 2021

  Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work. Full Story 

• In a changing Texas, Republicans will begin redistricting with more freedom to draw their maps

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 17, 2021

  Facing demographic changes that work against their political dominance, Republicans will be able to redraw politically advantageous maps — and shield themselves from the change — without federal oversight for the first time in decades. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs Texas voting bill into law, overcoming Democratic quorum breaks

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Sept. 7, 2021

  SB 1 makes up Republicans’ third attempt to pass a far-reaching law that restricts how and when voters cast ballots. It takes particular aim at voting initiatives used in diverse, Democratic Harris County in the 2020 election. Full Story 

• Texas must pay $6.8 million in legal fees to parties who challenged voter ID law, federal appeals court says

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 3, 2021

  The case ricocheted through federal courts for nearly seven years and over several elections, with federal judges ruling that Texas lawmakers discriminated against Hispanic and Black voters when crafting one of the nation’s strictest voter ID laws. Full Story 

• Before the legislation is even signed, Texas’ new voting rules are challenged in two federal lawsuits

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 3, 2021

  Harris County joined a coalition of community and advocacy groups filing lawsuits over Senate Bill 1, arguing the far-reaching rewrite of Texas voting laws violates the U.S. Constitution and numerous federal laws and will suppress voters. Full Story 

• Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 election

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Sept. 2, 2021

  The bill, approved by the Senate and never considered by the House, would have allowed state and local party chairs to file requests to launch audits, but Republicans say the legislation would not have spawned a debacle akin to the controversial review underway in Arizona. Full Story 

• Barely underway, Texas redistricting draws its first lawsuit challenging Legislature’s authority to redraw legislative maps

  by Alexa Ura Sept. 1, 2021

  Two Democratic state senators filed the federal suit arguing the Texas Constitution does not allow lawmakers to meet in special session to draw up state House and Senate districts. They’re asking the courts to do it instead. Full Story 

• Republican bill tightening Texas election laws is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Aug. 31, 2021

  Senate Bill 1 rewrites Texas election laws to further restrict the voting-by-mail process and outlaw local voting initiatives meant to widen access, namely those pushed by Harris County that were disproportionately used by voters of color. Full Story 

• The hard-fought Texas voting bill is poised to become law. Here's what it does.

  by Alexa Ura Aug. 30, 2021

  Senate Bill 1 would set new rules for voting by mail, boost protections for partisan poll watchers and roll back local voting initiatives meant to make it easier to vote, namely those championed by Harris County that were disproportionately used by voters of color. Full Story 

• Texas House passes new voting restrictions as Democratic hopes of killing the legislation wane

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Aug. 27, 2021

  Democrats used every tool they had, fleeing the state en masse and forcing two special sessions, but a Republican bill to rewrite state election laws won final approval in the House on Friday. Once the House and Senate work out some differences, it appears headed to the governor’s desk. Full Story 

• Texas House committee again passes the voting restrictions bill that instigated Democratic quorum break

  by Alexa Ura Updated: Aug. 23, 2021

  Senate Bill 1 would outlaw local efforts to make it easier to vote, ratchet up vote-by-mail rules and bolster protections for partisan poll watchers. The Senate already passed the legislation, but a House panel Monday replaced that with the lower chamber’s version of the bill. Full Story