Thread by @TheArcofTexas

🧵Y'all still awake? #txlege is about to discuss the omnibus voting bill #SB7 in a few minutes, and it almost seems like some folks hope you're asleep! Here's what you need to know about the latest version of #SB7 and why it's bad for Texas voters w/disabilities #CripTheVote

Although #SB7 dropped the Dr.'s note to prove a voter's disability to qualify for mail-in ballots, the latest version requires Texans requesting to vote by mail bc of disability to disclose illness/injury/mental or physical disability. That's not an improvement. #CripTheVote

After disclosing personal medical information, #SB7 requires a mail-in ballot requester to give a driver license/social security #/or statement that the individual doesn't have these. That's up to 2 separate declaration requirements for a disabled voter #CripTheVote

After making these declarations, a voter who is requesting a mail-in ballot has to sign the document with ink on paper. #SB7 doesn't consider folks with disabilities who might not be able to physically sign a piece of paper in ink. #CripTheVote #txlege

But wait, there's more! We've only covered mail-in voting so far. There are plenty of other problematic provisions in #SB7 for voters w/disabilities who are going to the polls. #txlege #CripTheVote

Some Texans w/disabilities live in group homes. #SB7 would make it illegal for group home staff members--who assist residents with daily tasks--to assist them specifically at the polls. That's because they staffer is compensated. #txlege #CripTheVote

Maybe those direct service professionals, who are already significantly underpaid, will just have to clock out if they want to help their residents participate in democracy? #txlege #SB7 #CripTheVote

If #SB7 passes, we'll have to make sure DSPs ARE volunteering their time, since they would be committing a felony otherwise. #txlege #CripTheVote

Once the paid/unpaid situation is straightened out, the person assisting a voter w/a disability would then have to take an oath that the person being assisted actually needs the assistance. #SB7 #txlege #CripTheVote

"I swear (or affirm) under penalty of perjury that the voter I am assisting represented to me they are eligible to receive assistance because of a physical disability that renders the voter unable to write or see or an inability to read the language ... "#SB7 #txlege #CripTheVote

#SB7 puts assisters at risk of a lot of legal ramifications. This could lead to fewer people willing to help voters with disabilities at the polls. That would disenfranchise Texas voters w/disabilities. #CripTheVote #txlege

We are embarrassed! There was one more thing related to mail-in ballots in #SB7 we forgot! If someone assists a voter in requesting a mail-in ballot, that assister needs to sign an oath and mail it in, too! #CripTheVote #txlege

#SB7 "A person who simultaneously assists three or more voters voting under this section by providing the voters with transportation to the polling place must complete and sign a form, provided by an election officer ...

... that contains the person's name and address and whether the person is providing assistance solely under this section or under both this sect ion and Sub chapter B." #txlege

#SB7's provisions on curbside voting is ... not good!

Another note: drive-through voting is different from curbside voting. Curbside voting is an accommodation so voters w/ disabilities have equitable access to the polls.

It's a bad look for Sen. Hughes/ Rep. Cain on whether they included Texans w/disabilities in writing #SB7. If they didn't, they willfully ignored those most impacted by the legislation. If they did, they willfully ignored those most impacted by the legislation. #txlege

Since @TeamBettencourt is bringing up numbers of voters in counties, it's a good time to mention that many Texans with disabilities live in the areas most affected by these voting restrictions. #SB7 #txlege

According to the report People with Disabilities: A Texas Profile (2019): "Harris County, the most populous county in the state, is home to 432,948 individuals with disabilities." gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/…

More than half of the state’s population of individuals with disabilities in 2017 resided in these 10 counties: Harris, Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant, Hidalgo, Travis, El Paso, Collin, Denton, and Cameron #txlege #CripTheVote #SB7