What is Voter Suppression, and What Does it Look Like in Texas?

Voter suppression takes many forms, but its goal is to keep people at the bottom of this country’s social hierarchy – people of color, the working class, the young – from exercising the most important right they have as US citizens.

Texas politicians have a long history of trying to get fewer people to vote. In the last few years, their efforts have gotten much more intense.

At the state level, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Republican Party of Texas have spent a lot of time and energy to prevent local election officials from making it easier to vote by mail, even during Covid-19. Texas Republicans have tried to “purge voter rolls, forced polling places to close, fought to keep voter registration difficult, and punished minor violations of election law with draconian prison sentences.”[1] The Texas Republican Party is fighting in many courts to prevent local election officials from sending out mail-in ballot applications to citizens. Meanwhile, the Republican party sends out mail-in ballot applications to Republican voters. This is an in-your-face double standard.

Here’s a concrete example of voter suppression at the local level: in Waller County, local officials have cut voting hours and reduced the number of polling stations so that it is harder for students from Prairie View A&M University to vote.

So how can each one of us fight voter suppression? Simple: Cast your vote. Even if that means standing in line in the hot sun (tip: bring an umbrella), realize that your vote in the municipal, county, local, and state elections matters A LOT. Local city, county, and state officials have a big influence over whether we can exercise our right to vote.

Make your vote count – cast your ballot at every election!

Need a ride to the polling station? Rideshare2Vote provides free round-trip rides to polling places for marginalized voters. You can call 1-888-977-2250 to schedule a ride or request a Ride2vote online. We are also actively recruiting volunteers for driving as well as voter outreach. We welcome you to register as a volunteer to ensure no voter gets left behind.