Texas Democrats Walk Out of House Chamber to Block Voting Law

Voters enter and exit the Austin City Hall during the presidential primary in Austin, Texas, on March 3, 2020. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

Texas Democrats abandoned the House floor on the night of May 30 in an effort to prevent the passage of a sweeping election overhaul bill that had already passed the state Senate.

The Democrat lawmakers managed to defeat the bill temporarily by breaking the quorum needed to hold a final vote on it. According to the state House rules, at least 100 members are required to be present for the chamber to conduct business.