Senator warns House Bill 521 could create government 'lists' as Senate approves accommodation measure for voters with disabilities
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Summary
The Senate approved House Bill 521 relating to accommodating voters with a disability after Senator Eckhart warned on the floor that the bill, and similar measures this session, create lists that could be used to surveil or target people; final passage was recorded on the floor.
The Senate on May 20 approved House Bill 521, relating to accommodating voters with a disability. On the floor, Senator Eckhart raised concerns that the bill is part of a broader pattern this session of creating lists of individuals and groups that he said could be used for surveillance and discrimination.
“...this is about freedom, safety, and privacy. And with all due respect, senator Middleton's bill flies in the face of all 3 of those principles,” Senator Cook said earlier in related debate, and Senator Eckhart expanded on the lists concern: “We have lists of individuals who are public servants trying to assist people to vote... lists of judges... lists of vendors... Lists of books that were disfavored. Lists of people who were living in ways that were disfavored.”
Senator Eckhart said the session has produced statutes that create “lists” and likened the practice to historical abuses. He asked colleagues to vote no on the bill because, he said, “it's not about accommodating voters with disabilities. It's about creating lists of people who help others vote so that you can catch them.”
On final passage the Senate recorded the vote as 20 ayes and 11 nays, as announced on the chamber floor. The motion to take up final passage was moved on the floor and the bill advanced per the announced roll call.
