Texas Governor Signs Controversial Voting Bill Into Law

Gov. Abbott and other Republicans say the law expands access to voting, but it also puts new restrictions on 24-hour polling and drive-thru voting.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an elections overhaul into law Tuesday that adds more voting restrictions in the booming state, after Democrats spent months protesting what they say are efforts to weaken minority turnout and preserve the GOP's eroding dominance. The bill signing underlined the hard right turn Texas Republicans made this year, including a new state law banning most abortions. Already, the rewrite of Texas' voting laws are the target of at least three federal lawsuits — including another filed Tuesday — and all contend the changes will have a disproportionate impact on minorities.