Texas Governor Signs Bill to Make Electoral Fraud Second-Degree Felony

Texas Governor Signs Bill to Make Electoral Fraud Second-Degree Felony
Texas Governor Greg Abbott attends a briefing in Orange, Texas, on Aug. 29, 2020. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Harry Lee
Updated:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law last week that makes intentionally altering ballots or election reports a second-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

The bill, HB 574 (pdf), specifies that “knowingly or intentionally” counting invalid votes or refusing to count valid votes, or altering the report to include invalid votes or exclude valid votes, is a second-degree felony offense. The Act goes into effect on Sept. 1.