Voting Rights: Texas Bill Could Make Voter Registration Errors Punishable With Jail Time

The Texas Senate last week passed legislation that would stiffen the penalties for those who provide false information on voter registration forms — a move that civil rights advocates say could affect those who make honest mistakes in filling out the applications. Under the new legislation, those errors would be a state jail felony rather than a class B misdemeanor. The bill would also make voter assistance efforts more burdensome by requiring people who help voters in need of assistance — such as those who are elderly or disabled — to fill out new forms. The bill now heads to the Texas House where it must pass through committee before being taken up by the entire chamber. Tennessee meanwhile is advancing legislation that will make voter registration drives more onerous. Under a new GOP bill, if a registration organization turns in too many applications deemed “deficient” it could be fined, while violating other rules around registration drives could land paid…