Alvarado attempts 15-hour filibuster of GOP-backed election measure to 'give a voice to the constituents'

A state senator on Aug. 11 attempted to stop a vote on election security legislation with an overnight filibuster.

Decked in running shoes, Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) began her filibuster at 6 p.m., though she knew it wouldn't be enough to stop the vote on Senate Bill 1.

The website LegiScan explains that SB 1 relates “to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state.”

Texas Republican leaders say the measure is necessary to discourage fraud at the polls while Democratic officials, including Alvarado herself, contend it seeks to disenfranchise black and brown voters, as well as people with disabilities.

Politico reported that as part of her filibuster, Alvarado was required to remain standing and speaking.

She wasn't allowed to sit, lean on her desk or even take a bathroom break.

Her effort harked back to 2013 when then-Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) filibustered in an attempt to stymie a vote on an abortion bill.

Alvarado’s filibuster failed in its purpose as the GOP majority Texas Senate passed the controversial bill 18-11, Politico reported.

"Fifteen hours ago I stood to filibuster #SB1 and give a voice to the constituents who this bill attempts to silence,” the exhausted senator tweeted. “I know #VoterSuppression anywhere, is a threat to democracy everywhere. Proud to shine a light on stories of everyday Texans and stand up for the promise of democracy."

Election integrity has been a hot-button issue since the 2020 presidential election.

Republicans attributed former President Donald Trump’s loss in the race to what he and they perceive was widespread fraud.

Several states, including Texas, have either passed legislation regulating elections – a move seen by Democrats as akin to Jim Crow – or conducted audits of their own ballots.

The 87th Texas Legislature didn’t pass GOP-backed election related bills in its regular session because of a walkout staged by Democratic lawmakers, prompting Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session last month.

However, that session was interrupted by another Democratic walkout, that time out of the state to Washington, D.C. to break quorum.

Alvarado was among the lawmakers who fled Texas, Houston Daily reported.