FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2021

Contact: Prudence Robertson, probertson@sbalist.org, (240) 672-2828

Legislature Must Take Further Action in Special Session

Washington, D.C. – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed HB 2283, legislation prohibiting private ideological groups, corporations, and big tech companies from funding local elections to selectively affect turnout, into law.

Last month, Texas House Democrats refused to finalize SB 7, related election integrity legislation that would ensure voter I.D. for mail-in ballots, protect poll watchers, and add protections against ballot harvesting, and more. (SB 7). Additional action in a special session is now needed to enact  the landmark legislation.

National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli praised the legislation saying:

“We are grateful to Governor Abbot and the Texas legislature for acting on this critical piece of anti-corruption legislation, sorely needed in Texas to help clean up the use of private money selectively funneled into local elections. The corrupting influence of big tech oligarchs like Mark Zuckerberg dilutes the voice and vote of Texans, manipulates the official voting apparatus, and undermines trust and confidence in the democratic process.

“Without delay, we urge continued action in a special session to restore fair, secure, and transparent elections Texans can trust. Now more than ever, the legislature must finish the work obstructed by Texas House Democrats who abandoned their duty in May and ensure every legal vote will be counted fairly and openly in Texas.”

In mid-March, polling by WPA Intelligence found that 81% of Texas voters think voting by mail should have the same voter I.D. protections as voting in person.

Additional polling released by the Honest Elections Project found that Americans of all backgrounds and political persuasions overwhelmingly favor requiring that voters show ID to vote:

  • 64% of voters, including Black (51%) and Hispanic (66%) voters, as well asurban (59%) and Independent (61%) voters, want to strengthen voting safeguards that prevent fraud – not eliminate them.
  • 77% of voters, including strong majorities of Republicans (92%), Independents (75%), and Democrats (63%) all support requiring voter ID.
  • 64% of Black voters, 77% of Hispanics, and 76% of low-income voters reject the notion that presenting a form of ID at the ballot-box is a “burden.”
  • Two-thirds of voters (66%) support increased protections on absentee voting, like requiring voter ID to vote absentee, which proposed federal bills, H.R.1 and S.1 expressly forbid, contrary to the clear will of the American people.

Separately, Rasmussen found 75% of likely U.S. voters say that showing a photo I.D. to vote is necessary for a “fair and secure election process.” Additional polling from Rasmussen found that 85% of registered voters said it is “common sense” to require photo I.D.

The Election Transparency Initiative, a partnership between American Principles Project (APP) and the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), was organized to combat H.R. 1/S. 1 and advocate for state-based election reforms that voters can trust.

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