The Texas Senate gave preliminary approval today to SB9, a voter suppression bill designed to keep turnout low in Texas. We just sent out the following press release.
UPDATE: The Senate passed SB9 on third reading this evening. The bill now goes to the House.
TFN PRESIDENT: SENATE BILL 9 IS AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS, KEEP TURNOUT LOW IN TEXAS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2019
AUSTIN – Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller has the following statement on the Senate’s preliminary approval today of SB9, a bill that would make it harder for eligible Texans to cast a ballot and threatens them with years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines if they make an honest mistake when registering or trying to vote:
“Lawmakers should be modernizing our election systems to make participating in our democracy easier, not creating more obstacles and making eligible voters worry they could be thrown in jail for making an honest mistake. The idea that we would imprison folks attempting to exercise their right to vote is about as anti-democratic an idea as I can imagine. This bill is really about keeping turnout low, plain and simple. Frankly, it’s the kind of bill you pass when you’re scared that higher turnout threatens your ability to hold on to power.”
Miller called on the House to reject SB9 and instead take up measures that would make it easier for eligible Texans to vote, including allowing online voter registration, allowing college students to use their school IDs to vote and establishing voting locations on college and university campuses.
The Senate must take a final vote on SB9 before it goes to the House.
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The Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization building an informed and effective movement for equality and social justice.
