Voting Showdown in Texas
The battle over who has a voice in governance in Texas boiled over last week when Texas Democrats left the state and headed to Washington, D.C. to bring the fight to the national stage. This was a continuation of the increased tensions last May when Texas Democrats broke quorum on the eve of the end of the legislative session, thereby preventing the Republicans from passing further voting restrictions.
Heading into the 2020 election, Texas was the hardest state to vote in.
Despite that distinction, the GOP is not satisfied. They see the efforts that groups like Rideshare2Vote are exerting and the impact they are having. Looking into the future, they know that they need to wield their power now in order to shut the door on the majority of voters in Texas. I say “the majority” because we are already ruled by persons who hold views that are in the minority in Texas. It will only get worse if we don’t stop them now, and the Texas Democrats camping out in Washington know that.
The proposed voting restrictions in Texas are widespread, but they include:
- Banning drive-through voting
- Limiting hours to vote (Harris County implemented 24 hour voting last year to accommodate shift workers – a demographic that is not typically favorable to the GOP)
- Ban the ability to mail applications to request a mail-in ballot that are not specifically requested by the voter
- Even stricter ID requirements
- Giving partisan poll watchers free movement in the polling location – a classic intimidation move
These restrictions particularly impact voters with disabilities; something that Rideshare2Vote is keenly aware of. We never anticipated when we started this work, how much the disabled community would connect with us. We have learned through experience how difficult it is for them to vote. Voting by mail is quite restricted in Texas. If a person wants to vote by mail because of a disability, they can only do so if they represent that that their disability keeps them from voting in person without needing help or without the risk of injuring their health. That sounds easy, but in a state where the people in power are literally scrutinizing voters, and looking for people to criminally prosecute, it has a chilling effect. Further, voters in Texas cannot register to vote at their polling location. Therefore, if they miss the deadline, develop a disability or illness, they are out of luck.
Voting is how we communicate with our government. The GOP in Texas and across this country is trying to take away our right to communicate with our government. They do not support a democratic form of government. This is what the Texas Democrats in D.C. are fighting for.
There are two parts to their ask:
- Pass the” Voting Rights Act” championed by Congressman John Lewis. The purpose of the Voting Rights Act is to restore voting rights to the form in which it was passed in 1965 before the U.S. Supreme Court took out its teeth in 2013 with the Shelby v. Holder decision.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a response to the demands of Black people who were being denied their right to vote. It established “pre-clearance” in certain states, Texas being one of them, thereby requiring those states to get federal approval before certain voting laws could be changed. The day after Shelby v. Holder came down, Texas was the first state to introduce language rolling back voting rights protections. Texas and other states are completely unchecked and voters are left without any real remedies.
- Pass the “For the People Act”, which is much broader than the Voting Rights Act, and includes:
- Voter Rights, such as requiring voter registration on the day of voting, rules around purging voter rolls, restoring voter rights to felons, etc.
- Election Security provisions
- Campaign Finance Reform
- Ethics rules, such as requiring President and Vice-President candidates to disclose 10 years of tax returns
- Admit D.C. as a state
- Rules to restrict/prohibit gerrymandering
Texas is the canary in the coal mine on voting rights; therefore, what happens in Texas impacts the country. Regardless of where you are, join the fight by supporting the efforts of Rideshare2Vote, and other organizations on the front lines of the fight for the right to vote.
Rideshare2Vote will be partnering with the Poor Peoples Campaign (www.poorpeoplescampaign.org) next week as they lead a moral march beginning on July 27, 2021, and culminating on July 31, 2021 at the state capitol in Austin, Texas. This is a broad coalition of persons fighting for our democracy. Check out the video below and sign up if you can join the fight.
The entire March will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the Poor Peoples Campaign. Live tweet in support of #VotingRightsAct #ForThePeopleAct #Rideshare2Vote.
Right now is every bit as important as the 2020 election. Think of the sacrifices made by Congressman Lewis, the Texas Dems in D.C. (facing arrest when they return to Texas), the women who fought for the right to vote, Black people who constantly face legislation to exclude them, the Dreamers, Native Americans who have to travel incredible distances on reservations to vote, and the LGBTQ community who made change through their vote.
Rideshare2Vote proudly continues its fight against voter suppression, and thanks you for support.
by Jody Johnson
