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Voting

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Our Position

CTD supports legislation that protects the rights of all Texans with disabilities to participate fully in the voting process, including: accessible voting technologies at all polling locations, the elimination of architectural and communication barriers at polling locations, and protecting the rights of eligible voters to participate in elections.

In 2021, our priorities are to:

Ensure that blind voters and those with mobility impairments have access to mail-in ballots in a format that allows them to cast their vote privately and independently.
address the state's faulty policies around mail-in ballot signature verification and ensure that voters have an opportunity to cure their ballot before an election, if a discrepancy is found.
stop any legislation that would create a barrier to voting for Texans with disabilities.

The Latest

October 27, 2020: For People With Visual Impairments, Truly Secret Ballots Are Elusive

October 19, 2020: Texas 5th Court of Appeals rules that election officials may continue rejecting mail-in ballots without notifying voters until after the election.

October 14, 2020: Our latest newsletter on voting in the 2020 General Election

October 1, 2020: CTD's Dennis Borel, "Why would [Gov. Abbott] want to–late in the game–come in and restrict the number of valid drop off locations during a pandemic during which older adults and people with disabilities are considered at the highest risk?” Texas Dems Declare ‘Big War’ on Gov Over Mail-In Vote Restriction

September 15, 2020: CTD Board President Kenneth Semien, Sr. tells why he is among Blind US voters suing over lack of accessible, mail-in ballots

September 14, 2020: Former House speaker Joe Straus: Texas should stop fighting vote-by-mail and accommodate people who need the option

NOTE: If you vote by mail, make sure the signatures on your Ballot by Mail Application and ballot match as closely as possible. Otherwise, your vote may be thrown out. Get updates on the 2020 mail-in ballot layout plus, tips on working with your post office from the Center on Civic Design.

Partners

American Council of the Blind of Texas

REV UP! Texas

Background

CTD has worked to protect the voting rights of Texans with disabilities and promote voting within this community since our foundation in 1978. For example, for many years, we successfully opposed Voter ID bills in the Texas legislature, which would have restricted access to the voting process. In 2011, the legislature did pass a Voter ID bill, but one with a CTD amendment that allows a person with a disability to claim an exemption from the new requirements.

In 2019, voter rights were once again the spotlight. SB 9 (Hughes) proposed new requirements for providing assistance to voters with disabilities, including potential criminal penalties for honest mistakes. CTD joined a coalition of disability, voting, and civil rights organizations in expressing major concerns about the constitutional legality of SB 9, as well as the chilling effect it could have had on the number of people willing to assist Texas voters with disabilities. Thanks to the push back from this coalition, SB 9 lost the momentum and support it would have needed to pass the House. SB 9 was a priority bill for state leaders, and stopping the bill is a major achievement.

From the letter the coalition sent to Senate: “We the undersigned members and supporters of REV UP Texas collectively and strongly urge you to oppose SB 9. SB 9, by creating new requirements for individuals providing assistance to voters with disabilities with potential criminal penalties, would have a chilling effect on the number of people willing to assist Texas voters with disabilities and increase barriers for voters with disabilities.” Read the full letter