Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2021

CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org

Secure Democracy: “Texans Deserve Accountable, Accessible Elections”

Organization blasts efforts by Lt. Gov. Patrick and others to impose further barriers to voting

AUSTIN, Texas— In response to Lieutenant Governor Patrick calling for increased restrictions on voting access at a press conference held this morning, Secure Democracy issued the following statement:

"Let’s be clear: Texans deserve the same freedom to vote that other Americans enjoy, but Texas is already home to some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Texans deserve elections that are accountable, accessible, and modern — and that’s what we know voters want. It’s time for Texas politicians to stop grandstanding, stop criticizing business leaders who are speaking out for their workforce and their consumers, and start working on behalf of the voters they are elected to serve.” 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Texans deserve the same freedom to vote that other Americans enjoy, but a recent study concluded that Texas had the highest “cost of voting” due to its restrictive voting laws.

  • Texas does not offer its citizens the ability to register to vote online — and is one of only 9 states that do not. 

  • Texas sets the earliest voter registration deadline allowed by federal law, at 30 days before Election Day — and is one of only 12 states to do so.

  • Texas restricts voting by mail to voters who can satisfy a limited set of conditions — and is one of only 16 states that does this.

  • Texas does not accept a student ID issued by an accredited college or university as photo ID to vote — and is one of only 7 states that does not.

  • More than half of all states (28, to be exact) provide voters more days to vote early in-person than Texas.

Two major bills are pending in the Texas legislature that would impose serious barriers to the ballot. S.B. 7, which was passed by the state Senate in the early morning hours of April 1, and H.B. 6, which was heard in a 22-hour committee hearing running from 8 a.m. on April 1 to 6 a.m. April 2. 

Senate Bill 7:

  • Reduces the number of hours that local election officials can provide early voting during the critical last week of early voting. Research from 2020 shows that voters of color voted at higher rates during extended hours than at other times.

  • Creates new, confusing documentation requirements for voters to receive assistance voting in person or by mail. These requirements would make it even more challenging for disabled voters and voters for whom English is a second language to have their voices heard. 

  • Creates additional barriers for community organizations to provide needed information and assistance to voters, particularly related to vote by mail. A March 2021 poll found that 81% of Texas voters wanted voters to receive necessary assistance in completing their ballots.

  • Eliminates the discretion of local election officials to provide alternative voting options to meet the needs of their diverse populations. The bill would lead to fewer and smaller polling locations in the most populous areas of metropolitan counties, despite polling finding 84% of Texans believe election officials should provide more polling locations.

  • Allows partisan activists serving as “poll watchers” to intimidate voters by recording them in the polling place and limiting the ability of election judges to remove disruptive poll watchers. Trust in elections requires voters to be able to cast their ballot free from harassment -- and keeping partisan politics out of polling places.

House Bill 6:

  • Prosecutes individuals providing assistance to voters for criminal offenses if they fail to complete new, confusing documentation when providing assistance.

  • Prosecutes election officials for felonies if they: 1) send ballot applications to voters who do not first request one, or 2) adopt procedures to protect voter health and safety or improve voter access.

  • Prosecutes election judges in polling locations for criminal offenses when they remove unruly and disruptive partisan poll watchers.

  • Prosecutes members of community organizations who assist a voter in casting their ballot in person or by mail.

There is widespread, bipartisan opposition to more voting restrictions in Texas.

  • AARP Texas, in written testimony opposing S.B. 7, said: “AARP maintains that, as introduced, SB 7 imposes that heavier burden and will result in disproportionate and unnecessary risks of disenfranchising older voters in Texas. Specific concerns include, but are not limited to, Article 2 (Vote By Mail- VBM) provisions of the bill.”

  • The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities opposes S.B. 7 and says: “In 2021, the Legislature should enable a mail-in ballot format that is accessible to all eligible voters, as well as address the state's faulty policies around mail-in ballot signature verification and ensure that voters have an opportunity to cure their ballot before an election, if a discrepancy is found.” 

  • R Street, a national research organization supporting free markets and limited government, said in written testimony opposing S.B. 7: “We should not be focused on limiting pathways to voting or restricting local control. Instead, we should do the opposite, which is why it is critical that the Legislature amend or oppose SB 7.”

  • Texas Republican pollster Chris Perkins, partner at Ragnar Research, said in an op-ed: “As long as Texas elections are grounded in accountability and transparency, voters are strongly on board with making it easier to cast a ballot before and on Election Day.”

Below is a brief roundup of businesses that are joining the chorus of voices supporting the freedom to vote — and, in many cases, explicitly opposing S.B. 7 and H.B. 6. 

  • Amazon, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “We oppose efforts in other states aimed at restricting the ability of Americans to vote.”

  • American Airlines, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “As a Texas-based business, we must stand up for the rights of our team members and customers who call Texas home, and honor the sacrifices made by generations of Americans to protect and expand the right to vote.”

  • Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “Apple believes that, thanks in part to the power of technology, it ought to be easier than ever for every eligible citizen to exercise their right to vote. We support efforts to ensure that our democracy’s future is more hopeful and inclusive than its past.”

  • AT&T, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “We believe the right to vote is sacred and we support voting laws that make it easier for more Americans to vote in free, fair, and secure elections.”

  • The Business Roundtable, in a media statement issued March 31, 2021, said: “Unnecessary restrictions on the right to vote strike at the heart of representative government. Business Roundtable members believe state laws must safeguard and guarantee the right to vote."

  • Dell founder Michael Dell opposes Texas voting restrictions, tweeting on April 1, 2021: “Governments should ensure citizens have their voices heard. HB6 does the opposite, and we are opposed to it.”

  • Microsoft, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “We are concerned that HB 6 could criminalize honest mistakes made by volunteer poll workers, which would give us pause before encouraging our employees to volunteer and serve in those roles.”

  • Prudential Financial, in a recent press interview, said it “believes in ensuring Americans have equal access to the right to vote, and we do not support this legislation.” 

  • CEOs from Salesforce, Uber, and 200+ other companies, as well as the MLB Commissioner, in a joint statement issued April 2, 2021, said: “We call on elected leaders in every state capitol and in Congress to work across the aisle and ensure that every eligible American has the freedom to easily cast their ballot and participate fully in our democracy.”

  • Southwest Airlines, in a media statement issued April 1, 2021, said: “We believe every voter should have a fair opportunity to let their voice be heard.” 

  • United Airlines, in a statement issued April 5, said: “Legislation that infringes on the right to vote of fellow Americans is wrong. We believe that leaders in both parties should work to protect the rights of eligible voters by making it easier and more convenient for them to cast a ballot and have it counted.”

  • Verizon, in a media statement issued on April 1, said: “We strongly oppose the passage of any legislation or the adoption of any measure that would make it harder for voters...to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot.”

A Secure Democracy statewide poll of Texas voters, conducted by leading Republican pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research Partners, found widespread support for voter access and opposition to the threat of criminal penalties that minimize voter assistance: 

  • Necessary assistance returning ballots: 81% of all voters support; 75% of Republican voters support

  • Threatening felony prosecution for an accidental vote: 61% of all voters oppose, 51% of Republican voters oppose

  • Threatening felony prosecution for providing assistance: 62% of voters said no to felony charge; 73% said no to felony charge for assisting more than three voters 

The poll also found strong bipartisan support for policies and legislation that increase accessibility and accountability within the Texas election system:

  • Extending early voting by one week: 73% of all voters support; 58% of Republican voters support

  • Increasing number of polling locations: 84% of all voters support; 80% of Republican voters support

  • Using an electronic ballot tracking system for mail-in ballots: 83% of all voters support; 75% of Republican voters support

  • Conducting regular voter roll audits: 91% of all voters support; 94% of Republican voters support

  • Investigating before canceling voter registration: 84% of all voters support; 86% of Republican voters support

A Secure Democracy analysis of Texas secretary of state data from the 2020 general election found that restricting access to absentee and early voting options could largely disenfranchise Republican voters:

  • Fewer than 1 in 5 Texas Republicans voted on Election Day. Instead, 64% of Texas Republicans voted early and 23% of Texas Republicans voted by mail; 

  • Republicans cast 54% of all early votes in the 2020 general election in Texas;

  • Republicans cast half (50%) of all mail votes in the 2020 general election in Texas;

  • More than 4 million voters aged 55 or older voted early or by mail in Texas, as opposed to 426,000 voters casting their ballot on Election Day. Among all Republican voters aged 55 or older in Texas, 91% voted early or by mail in 2020.  Among rural older adults in Texas, 67% voted early or by mail in 2020;

  • More than 6 in 10 (62%) of Republican active duty military or veteran voters in Texas voted early, nearly 3 in 10 (29%) of Republican active duty military or veteran voters in Texas voted absentee; and fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) of Republican active duty military or veteran voters in Texas voted on Election Day; and

  • 69% of Republican donors cast early votes and 25% voted by mail statewide.

Similarly, a Secure Democracy analysis of secretary of state data from the 2020 primary election found primary voters in Texas were also reliant on early and mail voting in 2020:

  • Only 4 in 10 Republican primary voters voted on Election Day;

  • 54% of total Republican primary votes were cast early; and

  • Republicans cast 57% of all early votes in the 2020 primary election, compared to 37% of early votes cast by Democrats.

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About Secure Democracy

Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan organization that works to educate policymakers and the public about secure and fair elections. By collaborating with state leaders, election administrators, election security experts the organization helps to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote and the confidence to know that their vote is counted.