United States President Joe Biden has denounced a proposed bill in the state of Texas that would restrict voting rights, saying the measure “is part of an assault on democracy” and would disproportionately harm people of colour.

Axar.az reports that in a statement on Saturday afternoon, Biden said Texas legislators put forward a bill “that joins Georgia and Florida in advancing a state law that attacks the sacred right to vote”.

“It’s part of an assault on democracy that we’ve seen far too often this year – and often disproportionately targeting Black and Brown Americans. It’s wrong and un-American. In the 21st century, we should be making it easier, not harder, for every eligible voter to vote,” he said.

Texas’ sweeping bill – known as Senate Bill 7 – would eliminate drive-through voting, empower partisan poll watchers and limit voting on Sundays, when many Black churchgoers head to the polls, among other restrictions.

The changes would need to be approved before midnight on Sunday, when the state’s Republican-controlled legislature wraps up its session.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott has said he will sign the measure, which Democrats have said they would challenge in court.

The proposal is one of several pieces of legislation put forward by Republicans across the US in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections that would restrict voting access – and which critics have said aim to make it tougher for Black and other people of colour to cast their ballots.