Texas latest US state to advance Republican-backed voting limits

The bill would limit mail-in ballots, early voting and drive-in access, and adds to the national debate about voting rights.

Texas joined other Republican-controlled states on Friday in advancing a slew of new voting restrictions, defying opposition from many of the state’s businesses and adding to a fierce national debate over voting rights. The state House of Representatives in Austin voted largely along party lines to give the legislation approval on Friday after hours of debate, the Reuters news agency reported. Members of the Texas House and state Senate, which passed its own bill imposing voting limits last month, will now work to reconcile the two bills before sending a finalised version to Republican Governor Greg Abbott.