Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2021

CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org

Secure Democracy Warns Texas Republicans Not to Disenfranchise Their Own Voters

Fewer than 1 in 5 Republicans voted in person on Election Day, a Secure Democracy analysis finds

AUSTIN, Texas— In response to Governor Abbott, Senator Bettencourt, and Representative Cain calling for increased restrictions on voting access at a press conference held this morning, Secure Democracy issued the following statement:

"Fewer than 1 in 5 Republican voters in Texas voted in person on Election Day in 2020, so restricting access to absentee and early voting options could really disenfranchise these leaders’ own voters,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “We urge Texas lawmakers to adopt measures that bolster election integrity while expanding voter access uniformly across the state. The facts make it plain: Texans across the political spectrum are the ones that would benefit.”

A Secure Democracy analysis of Texas Secretary of State data from the 2020 general election and a national partisanship model found: 

  • 64% of Texas Republicans voted early;

  • 23% of Texas Republicans voted absentee; 

  • Only 13% of Texas Republicans voted on Election Day;

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

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

  • 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.

Secure Democracy urges Texas lawmakers to improve election integrity by upgrading its election process to provide eligible voters increased freedom in how they register, vote, and assure their vote is counted. Specifically, Secure Democracy encourages Texas legislators to: 

  • Enhance voter confidence by enabling voters to track their ballots online; 

  • Adopt a statewide process to ensure that ballots aren’t thrown away for minor errors; 

  • Make permanent the very successful early voting extension it adopted in 2020; 

  • Join the rest of the country in allowing voters to register online; and 

  • Recognize photo IDs issued by state schools, tribes, and agencies as valid for voting purposes. 

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About Secure Democracy

Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.