Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill designed to restrict voting access and limit mail-in ballots into law today, taking a further step for GOP lawmakers to control the electorate in future elections, CNN reports.

While the 2020 election in the state saw record turnout and miniscule problems, Republicans in Texas fear a demographic and cultural shift in the state that will likely see the GOP lose power in the coming elections.  The legislation is designed to make it more difficult for people to vote.

The legislation would stop drive-in voting, eliminate 24-hour voting sites and limit mail-in voting eligibility.  This and other legislation prompted state senate Democrats to flee the state to deny the senate a quorum to proceed with the vote. 

“It does make it easier and than ever before for anybody to go cast a ballot. It does also, however, make sure it is harder than ever for people to cheat at the ballot box,” Abbott said at an event at which he signed the bill into law.

The legislation takes aim at Democratic strongholds in the state like the city of Houston, which in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, enacted a number of provisions that allowed citizens various methods to cast their ballots.  Other provisions in the bill rescind state-wide practices to encourage voting, including a law that allows anyone over 65 to automatically qualify for a mail-in ballot.