AUSTIN — Following a tense hours-long debate in which two lawmakers faced off in the middle of the Texas House floor, lawmakers passed a bill that would end the practice of "one-punch" straight-ticket voting.

The bill was given preliminary approval on Friday evening largely along party lines, with Democrats in opposition. It got final approval on Saturday and will now head to the Senate for further debate, but not before Democrats said the bill was designed to hurt their chances at the polls.

"We've had a lengthy debate on this, but is it your position that this is a neutral provision?" Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, asked bill author Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, on Saturday. Simmons responded: "It has nothing to do with race. This is a neutral bill, in my opinion."

Texas is one of only nine states in the country that still allow the practice of straight-ticket voting, where voters can choose either to cast their ballot for individual candidates or for all candidates based on party. It is controversial because, while convenient, opponents say it causes down-ballot candidates to lose races based solely on party affiliations.

The bill would eliminate the option at the top of ballots that allows people to vote for all candidates from one party with a single tick. He said he trusted voters to make decisions in each election based on the merits of candidates in those races.

"House Bill 25 is a bill that would help all Texans by ending the blind, one-punch voting where you're not even thinking about it," Simmons said. "I'm excited about that."

Democratic lawmakers argued the bill was another attempt by the Legislature to make voting more difficult for black and Latino voters, who often use straight-ticket voting. They made frequent references to recent court rulings that found the state acted with discriminatory intent in drafting electoral maps and a voter ID law in 2011. They hinted at further lawsuits if the bill passed.

Democrats said ballots in some counties include more than 100 races, and the bill would be detrimental to the sick and elderly by making them tick through every race rather than allowing them to vote for the party of their choice with a single punch. The bill would also harm turnout because it would make voting take longer in areas that don't have resources to handle large numbers of voters, they alleged.

But Simmons said the data did not bear that out. North Carolina, which banned straight-ticket voting in 2016, did not see a reduction in voter turnout, he said.

Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, who tried to amend the bill several times, said many of the people elected to the chamber had benefited from straight-ticket voting and were now trying to take that away that practice.

"Why would you want to take away [the right of constituents] to vote straight-ticket one-punch if they want to?" said Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo. "Why would you want to take away that right?"

"I'm not taking away a right," Simmons replied. "I'm taking away an option."

State Rep. Ron Simmons authored a bill to eliminate straight-ticket voting. (2014 File Photo / Denton Record-Chronicle)

Democrats said the bill was an attempt to limit the number of votes that could be cast for their party by targeting a practice used by many minority voters. Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, said he was disappointed his Republican colleagues were not expressing more opposition to the bill because it was an issue that affects all Texans.

"This is about convenience for our voters," he said.

Simmons, who at times refused to answer questions about the bill from fellow lawmakers, said the issue was not partisan. He said the bill would yield educated voters, which would lead to better candidates and better public officials.

Near the end of the debate Friday, Rep. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, proposed an amendment to allow active duty members of the military to continue the practice of one-punch straight-ticket voting. Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, challenged him, asking whether Blanco did not think troops were smart enough to click more than one button.

Blanco, a veteran, replied that he did not appreciate criticism from a person who had not served in the military. Bonnen said he was tired of Blanco alluding to his military service to shoot down criticisms of his legislative moves. After a brief shouting match, the two faced off in the middle of the House floor and were surrounded by other representatives before being separated.

Several amendments meant to soften the bill failed. Lawmakers did approve one change that will require the state to educate voters that straight-ticket voting has been eliminated, if the bill becomes law. The House voted 88-57 to give the bill final approval Saturday afternoon.

Staff writer Lauren McGaughy contributed to this report.