Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2021

CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org

Texas Senate Advances Extreme Elections Bill on Party-Line Vote

S.B.1 will make to harder for Texans across the state to exercise their freedom to vote

AUSTIN, TX —  In response to the Texas Senate passing S.B. 1, Secure Democracy issued the following statement:

“By advancing this bill, the Texas Senate is ignoring the will of Texas voters, who want bipartisan solutions that strengthen Texas elections and improve voter access for all,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Instead of rushing to pass partisan legislation that will only further undermine confidence in our elections and restrict the ability of older and disabled voters from casting a ballot, Secure Democracy urges legislative leaders to come together and prioritize election reforms that will create more transparent and fair elections for all Texans.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON S.B. 1
Texas Senate Bill 1 would weaken Texans’ ability to participate in elections and leave election officials and administrators hamstrung when it comes to keeping partisanship out of Texas elections. If enacted in its current form, the bill would:

  • Threaten election officials with criminal prosecution for enacting procedures to meet local community needs and increase voter freedom;

  • Threaten organizations and caregivers with felony prosecution for providing needed assistance to voters at polling locations and with mail ballots;

  • Limit the ability of election judges to remove disruptive or intimidating partisan poll watchers;

  • Allow partisan poll watchers to take election officials to court over perceived obstruction;

  • Require voters using mail ballots to include the ID number identical to the one they initially provided with their registration application when applying for or returning mail ballots;

  • Strictly limit the type of assistance a person -- even a family member -- may provide a voter when casting their ballot; and

  • Restrict outdoor and drive-through voting locations and ban mail ballot drop boxes

A similar bill, H.B. 3, has also been introduced in the Texas House.

 

TEXAS LEADERS AND ADVOCATES WARN AGAINST RESTRICTIVE, PARTISAN ELECTION LEGISLATION

Former Speaker Joe Straus: “Texas leaders would be wise to avoid restrictions on voting access, new barriers for voters with disabilities and other ideas that lead to insurmountable partisan disagreement...The strongest way forward is a process driven by best practices and objective data, rather than paranoia and partisanship.”

Texas AARP: “The right to vote is among the most basic of all civic and Constitutional rights. AARP favors laws and policies that encourage and do not hinder electoral participation. AARP is concerned that SB 1, (87-1) could impose a heavy burden and result in disproportionate and unnecessary risks of disenfranchising older voters in Texas.”

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities Deputy Executive Director Chase Bearden: “We have the time. We’re calling a special. We’re bringing everyone back. We should take advantage of that by bringing a bill that represents all of Texas, not one side versus another but something that actually creates the belief that we’re going to improve our voting system and improve the way we can vote and ensure our votes count.”

GOP Pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research: ”My latest poll found strong bipartisan support among Texas voters for policies that increase accessibility and accountability to voters within the Texas election system, including extending early voting, providing additional polling locations on Election Day and allowing voters to correct small errors on their mail ballots.”

 

NEW SECURE DEMOCRACY/RAGNAR RESEARCH POLL: BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR INCREASED VOTING ACCESSIBILITY AND ELECTION ACCOUNTABILITY IN TEXAS
A new statewide poll conducted by Ragnar Research for Secure Democracy found strong bipartisan support for election reforms that strengthen free and fair elections in Texas and rejects partisan attempts to weaken confidence in election integrity:

  • 93% of Texas voters believe that poll watchers should have proper training; 86% of voters do not want poll watchers to film or photograph their votes

  • 91% of Texas voters say the legislature should not be allowed to reject or overturn election results without clear proof of fraud

  • 90% of Texas voters believe state lawmakers should take steps to protect their elections from partisan interference

  • 87% of Texas voters support increasing the number of polling locations on Election Day, including 69% of Republicans

  • 86% of Texas voters said election workers shouldn’t worry about risking jail time for doing their jobs

  • 86% of Texas voters oppose felony charges for providing assistance to voters with disabilities or voters with other unique needs at polling locations

  • 74% of Texas voters want to expand the accessibility of early voting by one week, and 80% of voters want to add a second weekend of early voting

  • 69% of Texas voters want to create a consistent process to allow voters to correct any errors on mail-in ballots before they are tossed out, including 60% of Republican voters

SECURE DEMOCRACY URGES LEGISLATORS TO UNITE BEHIND COMMON SENSE REFORMS THAT STRENGTHEN TEXAS ELECTIONS

Measures enjoying bipartisan support that Secure Democracy continues to urge lawmakers to advance during the special session on election reform include:

  • Ballot cure. Ballot cure is a process that exists in many other conservative states, including Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky, and would notify voters about an honest, correctable issue with their mail ballot prior to rejecting them. 

  • Online Voter Registration. Texas should implement a statewide online voter registration system to serve new and existing voters, like those already available in 40 states. Local Texas election administrators support the creation of an online voter registration system. 

  • Expanded Early Voting. Early voting is wildly popular in Texas and Texans want more opportunities to cast their ballots in person. Nearly three in four Texas voters support expanding the early voting period by a week, with even more wanting a second weekend of early voting. Last year, over 4 million Texans voted during the extra week of early voting Governor Abbott authorized.

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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.