Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2022

CONTACT: press@securedemocracyusa.org

Ahead of Upcoming Primary Elections, Texas Leaders Must Put Voters First When Implementing New Election Law

Secure Democracy USA urges Secretary of State Scott to work with local election officials to fix ongoing issues for voters

In reaction to widespread reporting of confusion over the implementation of the new Texas elections bill, Secure Democracy USA Senior Advocacy Director Kay Cook issued the following statement:

“Texas Secretary of State John B. Scott must prioritize working with local election officials to give them the resources they need to properly administer Texas elections and educate voters about the new changes to the law. The current absentee ballot application process is confusing to voters and burdensome to election administrators, and the rejection rate some counties are reporting is simply unacceptable. However, under the new law voters have the right to fix their application so they can make their voices heard and exercise their freedom to vote. With voting starting in the Texas Republican and Democratic primaries in just a few weeks, it’s time for Secretary Scott to put voters first and work with local election officials to fix these predictable problems.”

Additional resources:

  • In July 2021, Secure Democracy was one of several groups to submit testimony warning legislators of this potential confusion, and as a result the legislature added an absentee ballot rejection cure provision to S.B. 1. Read Secure Democracy’s testimony here.

  • A July 2021 Secure Democracy poll by Ragnar Research Partners found that 69% of Texas voters want to create a consistent process to allow voters to correct mail-in ballots before they are tossed out, including 60% of Republican voters. (Correcting mail-in ballot applications was not tested in this poll). View the press release announcing the poll results here.

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Secure Democracy USA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to build confidence in our elections and improve voter access across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We use sophisticated survey and messaging research to inform our strategy and we collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, policy  experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.