A segregationist term from the Jim Crow era referring to the “purity” of ballots was yanked at the last minute before the Texas House passed a measure restricting voting. Eighteen amendments — 13 of them from Democrats — were added to the Republican election bill before it was passed 78-64 Friday. It initially said that said the measure was designed to “preserve the purity of the ballot box” — a phrase “drafted specifically to disenfranchise Black voters following the Civil War,” Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchía told bill sponsor Rep. Briscoe Cain (R). "Purity of the ballot box” was a term drafted specifically to disenfranchise Black voters following the Civil War. The bill passed along party lines and now goes to a conference committee, where lawmakers will resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Source: Huffington Post May 09, 2021 13:52 UTC