THREE VOTER SUPPRESSION BILLS PROPOSED IN TEXAS LEGISLATURE

Debate on bills to SUPRESS OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE is underway in the Texas Legislature

These bills would place unreasonable and practically insurmountable barriers to the right to vote by eligible voters

Say “NO!” to these bills, so every eligible Texan can register and cast a ballot.

The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs is hearing SB 16, SB 76, and SB 396 — all voter suppression bills.

These bills that would place unreasonable and practically insurmountable barriers to the right to vote by eligible voters — SUPPRESSING OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE!

Here’s a quick breakdown of the bills:

❌ SB 16 – Although existing law is clear that only US citizens can register to vote — and numerous checks already exist to confirm eligibility — this bill puts new unnecessary burdens on the voter!

It creates a complicated bureaucratic maze of requirements for registrars and voters, including criminal penalties that will make it substantially harder or downright impossible for many — probably thousands — of eligible voters to register or renew their registration to vote.

MORE INFORMATION ON SB 16:
This bill requires all Texans registering to vote to either provide official documented proof of citizenship (birth certificate, US passport, citizenship documents, etc.) with their paper application, in person or by mail, to their county voter registrar or the Texas DPS, or provide other identification to the Registrar, sufficient for the Registrar to verify their citizenship status. If the registrar can’t verify their citizenship status, then until the voter proves their citizenship — they can only vote a “federal limited ballot” — voting only for members of congress!

Volunteer Deputy Registrars are not permitted to accept proof of citizenship

If a Registrar knowingly fails to reject an application to register where there is not sufficient proof of citizenship, then the Registrar is subject to prosecution for a state jail felony!

A list of persons registered to vote but without proof of citizenship then has to be provided to the Attorney General.

❌ SB 76 would end bipartisan-supported countywide voting sites and force Texans to only vote in their home precinct polling site, leading to longer lines, confusion, and rising county costs

❌ SB 396 would suspend the registration of eligible Texas voters with P.O. Boxes not shown to directly correspond to a residence if they do not respond to a confirmation notice from the Registrar with written confirmation of their residence.

MORE INFORMATION ON SB396:
IMPORTANTLY this bill would also require a confirmation and subsequent suspension of registration for any person who has not voted in any election during the previous 25 months.  (Sometimes called a “use it or lose it” provision!)

Voters on the suspension list for two federal cycles (4 years) are subject to removal from the voting rolls. This bill unnecessarily purges the voter rolls and will directly impact Texans who may skip elections, only voting in Presidential elections or those who move and don’t receive the request for confirmation — particularly threatening the freedom to vote of students and the housing insecure.