Toplines:

• The fight for voting rights in Texas may feel like an uphill battle, but gains are being made by the day. 

• The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Texas over the GOP-backed anti-voter law passed through the legislature because of your testimonies. 

• These testimonies were only a small part of the work that has been done to organize against Republican attacks on our voting rights. 

• Keep fighting. We need everyone to have access to the polls come 2022.

With a legislature that does not adequately represent us and a governor hellbent on appeasing a small far-right base at the detriment of children, every day in Texas feels like an uphill battle. This has especially been true with voting rights as we are reminded time and time again that it is harder to vote in Texas than in any other state. 

Last week the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas over Senate Bill 1, expansive anti-voter legislation that was signed into law by Gov. Abbott in September.

Abbott’s signature came despite tireless efforts by Texas Democrats and progressives throughout the state to kill the anti-voter bill. In July, hundreds of Texas residents gathered at the Texas Capitol to wait a grueling 17 hours to testify against the previous version of SB 1. 

Since the anti-voter bill was moved through multiple legislative sessions over the course of a few months, there were hundreds of vital public testimonies heard. In addition, Texas House Democrats avoided the passage of previous versions of SB 1 by breaking quorum two separate times, many flying to Washington, D.C. to request help at the federal level. 

When harmful legislation passes into law regardless of our efforts, things can begin to feel hopeless. The 2021 legislative sessions, while action packed with incredible work by progressives, probably left many of us feeling lost, wondering if the countless hours we spent fighting for our voting rights would ever pay off. 

Well, guess what - the Department of Justice directly referenced your testimonies in their lawsuit:

“Witnesses testifying against SB 1 and predecessor bills stressed the need for such assistance, including at the August 9, 2021, hearing of the Texas Senate Hearing on State Affairs and the August 23, 2021, hearing of the Texas House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies.”

These testimonies were only a small part of the work that has been done to organize against Republican attacks on our voting rights. We’ve seen you signing our petitions, contacting legislators, and sharing information about voting. People are showing up.

Why is the Department of Justice suing Texas?

While there are a number of issues with the new anti-voter law, the Department of Justice cites two main causes of action: 

1. Restrictions on voter assistance 
   
   “SB 1 further, and impermissibly, restricts the core right to meaningful assistance in the voting booth. Prohibiting assistors from answering voters’ questions, responding to requests to clarify ballot translations, and confirming that voters with visual impairments have marked a ballot as intended will curtail fundamental voting rights without advancing any legitimate state interest.”

2. Mail-in ballot restrictions 
   
   “SB 1 will disenfranchise some eligible mail voters based on paperwork errors or omissions immaterial to their qualifications to vote. Conditioning the right to cast a mail ballot on a voter’s ability to recall and recite the identification number provided on an application for voter registration months or years before will curtail fundamental voting rights without advancing any legitimate state interest.”

Read the full complaint here. 

Let this lawsuit be a beacon of hope to all of us. Keep up the fight. We need everyone to have access to the polls come 2022.