Senate Democrats held a press conference on July 9 to discuss election legislation and announce the filing of the Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Sen. Carol Alvarado

  • Will be hearing from Sen. West, Sen. Menendez, and Sen. Powell
  • Highlights how states in the South sought to disenfranchise African American voters
  • Seeing more voting from women, youth, and people of color; seeing efforts to disenfranchise these voters now
  • Here because of the “big lie” promoted by the “biggest loser,” election bill is a fraud against the people of Texas
  • AG spent 22k hours looking for something and found nothing, no one in jail for voter fraud; solution in search of a problem
  • Virtually everything in SB 1 makes it harder for people to vote; harder for seniors, people with disabilities, and those in the military
  • Only thing easy in the bill is voter intimidation by untrained partisan poll watchers; has to stop

 

Sen. Royce West

  • Papers have reported on the “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, former President Trump was trying to get Secretaries of State across the country to overturn results and gain an advantage; Republican Secretaries of State said they would do their duty, none found any issues, even in Texas
  • Secretary of State Hughes said that the Texas elections were fair and secure, was subsequently denied confirmation in the Senate; Republicans saying that the 2020 election was valid, that Jan. 6 was an insurrection are being challenged and mocked by their own party
  • Asking Texans to stand up for democracy in the state
  • Filing Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act today, designed to make voting more safe, secure, and accessible
  • Act removes unnecessary barriers in exercising freedom to vote, expands use of vote by mail and early voting period
  • Many other states have allowed registration to vote online, Texas can and should figure out how to do this
  • Act also recognizes power of local control, if there are issues with signatures, etc. this is cured at this level
  • Encourages young people to get involved in the process, provides for state ID cards
  • Allows those registering for driver’s licenses to automatically register to vote
  • Should look at using different types of voter identification
  • Will do everything in our power to get a hearing on this bill, will work with Republicans to secure compromises to ensure people are able to vote, voting is transparent, and it is secure

 

Sen. Jose Menendez

  • At a delicate and historic point in our democracy, many bills proposed are a direct attack on the fundamental right to vote
  • Law would make it harder for citizens to vote, hurts all voters regardless of party affiliation
  • Bill makes it more difficult for election officials to conduct elections
  • Imposes even greater anti-voting restrictions in what is already the hardest state in the country to vote in, should instead take steps to make voting more accessible
  • Have filed bills to make voting more accessible, many of these are in the Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act
  • SB 1 is a solution in search of a problem, part of a national trend to make it hard to exercise right to vote
  • Have heard from so many elected officials that last year’s election were safe and secure

 

Sen. Beverly Powell

  • Member of both State Affairs and Conference Committee on SB 7; bill was passed without transparency late at night
  • Were told repeatedly that SB 7 was not about voter suppression, but legislators from majority minority communities were left out, bill tried to limit hours for Souls to the Polls and had provisions to overturn elections
  • Only after House Democrats broke quorum did we hear that these provisions were mistakes; transparency is critical
  • Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act modernizes the process and capitalizes on common sense accountability measures; bill has been crafted in the light of day with full knowledge of citizens of Texas
  • Calling for hearing to ensure voices of Texans are heard

 

Sen. Carol Alvarado

  • Will be filing the online voter registration bill
  • Should not be a partisan issue, but Republicans have made it one
  • Do not support fraud in any election, want a transparent process

 

Sen. Royce West

  • We know there is a provision concerning poll watchers & know there will be differences between poll watchers and voters
  • There is an expedited case process in SB 1, but no indemnification
  • Barbara Jordan Fair Election Act ensures election officials are indemnified
  • Proposing training for all potential poll watchers and certification by the Secretary of State

 

Sen. John Whitmire

  • Media needs to do a better job of asking tough questions of Republican leadership and members, need to ask where the fraud is; issue has never been brought up in sessions past and all elected officials were elected under current rules; no one is suggesting that these members were elected fraudulently
  • Candidates are the first line of defense against fraud, keep an eye on their opponents
  • SB 1 has changed from SB 7 during session because they know it does not represent will of the people
  • Harris County operated very well

 

Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

  • Heard the “big lie” that presidential election was stolen in 2020, amazed that so many people believe it
  • Texas saw a greater turnout in 2020 than ever before with no fraud, but legislation is filed to restrict ability of people to vote for the candidate of their choice
  • Even with over 60 lawsuits filed across the US in support of former President Trump, no evidence was found of fraud

 

Sen. Nathan Johnson

  • Have two election bills, SB 1 stokes false fears, Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act is about faith in elections officials
  • Many issues on the call are ugly, aggressive, mean, and stoking false fears; not what government is supposed to be about

 

Questions

  • SB 1 has been modified, what is still at issue
    • Alvarado – Still issues with vote by mail, more information is required from senior citizens, those in the military
    • Vote by mail works well, maybe they don’t like the results
    • Also concerned about poll watchers, bill allows watchers to be very close and listen to conversations between judges and voters
    • Poll watchers are supposed to watch, but bill empowers them; should have training
    • Whitmire – Called “poll watchers” for a reason, SB 1 gives opportunity for conflict between watchers and voters; purpose is intimidation
    • Bill comes from fact they don’t like Harris County’s effective voting measures
    • West – When you look at who used the tools made by Harris County to vote, largely minorities; instead of trying to fix problems, they want to not do it at all
    • If there were issues with 24 hour voting, why didn’t we try to solve problems and ensure there was no disparate impact on minority groups
    • Hinojosa – Losing candidates can file lawsuits against those that won
  • Will you get a hearing on the bill?
    • West – In all probability won’t get a hearing on the bill, but will be asking for one; people need to be heard on this bill
    • Process is about improving legislation, should be talking about issues with motor voting and trying to fix this
    • Will be pushing for a hearing from the leadership
  • Is every tool available regarding election bills?
    • West – All options are on the table
  • Asks about Secretary of State voter registration citizenship checks
    • Alvarado – Saw the disaster with Secretary of State previously, this is targeting Latino voters
    • Menendez – Have filed SB 39 which would automatically register people to vote when they become naturalized citizens, would avoid some of the problems
    • We have the technology to solve many of these issues
    • West – Want to make certain only those eligible are able to vote, but proposing to purge rolls without input from Democrats, you do the state a disservice; should have been done with legislators sensitive to these issues
    • Democrats stand for only eligible voters voting
    • Eckhardt – Republican leadership bills don’t seek to remove barriers and lessen chaos; could have statewide registration, and opportunities to increase franchise, but we don’t see these provisions among the barriers in the bills filed by leadership
    • Many local officials, Republicans and Democrats, create and maintain fair election processes at the local level and maintain voter rolls in a fair way
  • Democrat Killer Bees killed a bill in the 70s, have you discussed this?
    • Whitmire – Keeping options open, trying to engage leadership and statewide officials to let them know proposals are not meeting needs of Texas
    • Special Session has no “special” issues, only more government, more personal intervention, and more wasted money
    • West – Should look at Barbara Jordan Fair Elections Act and see how public feels about this

 

Sen. Alvarado invites public to come to State Affairs hearing tomorrow