Voting rights advocates urge lawmakers not to restrict ballot access

TexPIRG

Senate State Affairs Chairman Bryan Hughes unveiled the text Friday for SB 7, his election integrity and security bill. The bill is cosponsored by 13 out of 18 Senate Republicans. The bill includes several harmful provisions that would further restrict access to the ballot for eligible voters. 

Data shows that the biggest problem in Texas isn’t that people are voting illegally.  After 22,200 staff hours from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, there were only 16 minor voting offenses made during the November 2020 election, out of over 11 million ballots cast statewide.

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

“This bill is not voter integrity, but rather voter restriction. Texas is already one of the states where it’s most difficult to cast a ballot. SB 7 will add more hurdles to  the voting process for county officials and eligible voters. 

“The house elections committee hearing last week revealed that half a million citizens have registered to vote using the DPS Automatic Voter Registration system without any problems or deficiencies so it’s clear that we can implement systems that are both secure and increase voter access. 

“I urge our elected officials to listen to the data, lead with integrity and find solutions that will help, not harm, Texas voters and the electoral systems.”

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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.