May 13, 2019
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Action

SB 9 makes voting harder. It could become law.

One of the worst voter suppression bills in the country this year is on the move and could be headed to Gov. Abbott’s desk unless we act now to stop it.

Senate Bill 9 has already cleared the Texas Senate and will get a committee hearing in the Texas House on Wednesday (May 15th) at 8 a.m.

Learn more about Senate Bill 9.

How to Act

Testify:

Come testify in opposition to SB 9: The bill will be heard in the House elections committee on Wednesday starting at 8 a.m., in room E2.016 at the Texas Capitol.

Call the Committee:

Call members of the Texas House Elections committee and ask them to vote no on SB9.

Rep. Stephanie Klick (CHAIR)
(512) 463-0599

Rep. Valoree Swanson
(512) 463-0572

Rep. Briscoe Cain
(512) 463-0733

Rep. Mayes Middleton
(512) 463-0502

Rep. Celia Israel
(512) 463-0821

Rep. Art Fierro
(512) 463-0596

Rep. Dustin Burrows
(512) 463-0542

Rep. John Bucy III
(512) 463-0696

Rep. Philip Cortez
(512) 463-0269

What does Senate Bill 9 do?

  • Threatens voters with jail time and enormous fines: Voters could be punished for innocent
    mistakes, such as filling out their voter registration form wrong.
  • Scares voters by weakening their right to a provisional ballot: Voters have a right to a provisional ballot when they sincerely believe they are eligible to vote, but this bill exposes them to possible jail time for doing so.
  • Creates new red tape for those who need assistance while voting, in particular elderly voters, voters with disabilities, and non-English speaking voters: Those who drive voters to the polls and assist them while voting will have to fill out burdensome new forms just to help people vote.
  • Injects partisanship into our elections: It allows partisan poll watchers to follow voters who need assistance into the privacy of the voting booth and watch them have their ballots marked.
  • Expands dangerous new powers to law enforcement: It gives law enforcement complete legal immunity from prosecution for committing election-related crimes, allowing law enforcement to conduct undercover sting operations against community-based organizations.
  • Exposes innocent people to arrest for vaguely defined conduct: Individuals who are assisting voters or exercising their right to free speech face new, confusing penalties for “impeding a walkway, sidewalk, parking lot, or roadway” up to 500 feet from a polling place, an area larger than a football field.
  • Gives state officials more access to voters’ private information: Attorney General Ken Paxton would be given direct access to the electronic voter registration database, which includes Social Security Numbers, Driver License Numbers, and other personal information.