Texas Democratic Party: Moving Texas Forward

Remember these guys? Last election cycle the King Street Patriots trained and deployed poll watchers to minority poll sites in Houston and, as reported by various media outlets, those poll watchers would hover over voters while they were casting their ballots, argue with election officials and just generally keep people from feeling comfortable while exercising their right to vote.

Well if Republican State Representative Aaron Pena gets his way, voter intimidation will soon be legal. House Bill 2588, which is being heard in the House Elections Committee today.

Under existing law, poll watchers are not allowed to be present at the voting station when a person is voting, whether they are voting by themselves or whether they have an assistant with them. Pena’s is the author of House Bill 2588, which strikes the part of current law which keeps watchers from being able to be present at the voting station if the voter is being assisted.

So basically, if you are healthy and able to vote without assistance, you get to cast a secret ballot. If you have a physical disability or an inability to read the language in which the ballot is written then you would no longer have a right to a secret ballot.

The House Elections Committee is meeting right now. Call Aaron Pena and these Republican members of the House Elections committee to demand they respect EVERYONE’S right to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.

Representative Aaron Pena: 512-512-463-0426 Capitol Office

These are the Republican members of the House Elections Committee:

Representative Larry Taylor: 512-463-0729 Capitol Office

Representative Leo Berman: 512-463-0584 Capitol Office

Representative Dan Branch: 512-463-0367 Capitol Office

Representative Cindy Burkett: 512-463-0464 Capitol Office

Representative Jason Isaac: 512-463-0647 Capitol Office

Representative Phil King: 512-463-0738 Capitol Office