Issue is I have to touch any button before I can activate the button of my choice.

Example : If I want to turn up the volume, I have to touch any other button and it will show the remote's icon battery percentage in the upper right hand corner, then it will activate the volume button.

Any one know why? Internet serach has me running in circles.

Seems like a sleep mode of sorts, or possibly paired to multiple devices? Have you re-paired it with the TV?

I have one of the voice remotes (not sure which model) but I have to pull a battery and reinsert basically everyday to get the remote to reconnect to the TV. The Roku remote j had before this would disconnect all the time but was rechargeable so I had to go plug it in to make it work again. These are both Bluetooth remotes.

Haven't figured out a fix, but a new remote generally works fine for a few months and they aren't that expensive, so.... ?

Buy a new remote. it is a commodity.