Press Releases - Gov. Abbott’s 11th Hour Order is Blatant Voter Suppression

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2020
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760-6567 | juan.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

Gov. Abbott’s 11th Hour Order is Blatant Voter Suppression

Houston, TX – Earlier today, Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) ordered counties to close all but one mail ballot drop-off sites, limiting each county to a single location. According to Abbott, the new order, which will come into effect on Friday, October 2, is an election security measure. This action comes two months after a July 27 order extended early voting by six days and allowed mail ballot drop-off before election day in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

In response, Aurora Harris, Southern Regional Director for Young Invincibles, issued the following statement.

“This is not the first time Governor Abbott has endangered the public health of Texans and young adults amid a global pandemic. Forcing Texans to descend on a single location to exercise their right to vote is a dangerous and appalling attempt to limit access to the ballot box. The pandemic is not over, and backtracking on public health measures designed to ensure the health and safety of voters is irresponsible at best. The governor is feigning concern over “illegal voting,” a phenomenon so rare that a recent elections analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice found a 0.0025% rate of “voter fraud.” Widespread voter fraud is a myth.

Let’s be very clear – this order does not serve a public health or election security purpose but instead suppresses millions of voters residing in urban centers. Texas has one of the youngest populations in the country with a median age of 34 years old. In 2018, young voters in Texas showed up to the polls in record numbers, tripling their voter turnout compared to the previous midterm election. In the face of the most consequential election in the history of our country, young voters are ready to break records once again. If anything, we should be making it easier, not harder, to cast your vote. This order is blatant voter suppression – point-blank.”

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