STATEMENT: Anti-democracy bills rushed through without public input

AUSTIN — Legislators in the House and Senate began hearing bills aimed at restricting voter access Thursday, less than two weeks after they were filed. Rep. Briscoe Cain, who is chairman of the House elections committee, ended a meeting without hearing from over 100 citizens who had signed up to testify. These bills would have sweeping negative impacts on voting access across the state. 

In response, TexPIRG Democracy Associate Lauren Banister issued the following statement:

“These anti-democratic bills are flying through the legislature at breakneck speed with little input from citizens. Today, hundreds of people showed up to the Capitol to testify in person, only to be sent home before having the chance to make their voices heard. First of all, we’re still amid a pandemic and this is another example of why we need to allow people to testify virtually. But beyond that, we’re all better off with a democracy of, by and for the people and both this process and these bills are stifling the voices of Texans.”

“These bills would take away the great local innovations, from drive-through voting to extended early voting hours, that benefited so many Texans through the 2020 election. HB 6 and SB 7 will make it harder to vote. Solutions need to focus on modernizing our election infrastructure to increase access to the polls but these bills will send us in the opposite direction.”

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TexPIRG is a non-partisan consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society.