Texas Republican Introduces Bill To Ban College Polling Places
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, Feb. 16, Texas Rep. Carrie Isaac (R) introduced House Bill 2390, a bill that would ban counties from opening polling locations on college and university campuses. H.B. 2390 would make it more difficult for students in the state to vote by requiring students to travel further from their campuses to do so. Isaac represents Hays County, which includes Texas State University, the 5th largest university in the state with over 38,000 students.
H.B. 2390 is just the latest in a long line of attacks on young Americans’ right to vote in Texas. For example,
- Student IDs are not accepted as a valid form of identification;
- In 2022, officials declined to reopen an early voting location on the campus of Texas A&M University and officials in Bexar County only opened more locations near colleges due to public pressure;
- A 2021 law imposing new residency restrictions on Texas voters could limit student and young voters access to the polls and
- A 2019 law prohibits counties from opening temporary early voting locations, many of which were located on campuses.
The legislation mirrors Republican efforts in other states, such as a bill in Idaho banning student IDs for voting. In 2021, Montana enacted multiple laws that were struck down for targeting young voters.