Thread by @tayhlorcoleman

The senate made clear tonight that they consider a rule worth more than Americans’ constitutionally protected equal access to the ballot.

Fine. But here’s what it’s like to live in Texas without the access to online voter registration as required by the #JohnLewisFreedomAct

https://twitter.com/tayhlorcoleman/status/1483500798671831043

Without online voter reg, Texans must get certified as a Deputy Voter Registrar in order to legally register voters. The next course required for certification isn’t until February in the county where I’m camping out this week—well past the voter reg deadline for the Mar. primary

Each of Texas’ 254 counties has its own rules. In some counties you have to take a test like this one recommended by the @TXsecofstate, in others you don’t. Some offer the required course online multiple times a week, some only offer the course in person once or twice a month.

As Texas refuses to allow online voter registration, this week @TXsecofstate announced new limits on the number of voter reg forms it will distribute, offering just 50 forms to groups who previously received as many as 3,500, citing “supply chain issues” kut.org/politics/2022-…

Conservatives have claimed voter registration & turnout is higher than ever in Texas and that’s proof that there’s no suppression. TX voter registration rate is around 75%. NY and CA, two larger states with online voter registration, have seen voter registration rates near 90%.

Demonstrably, black, brown, young & disabled voters in Texas don’t have ballot access equal to those in other states.

kxan.com/news/local/tra…

Conservatives decried the #JohnLewisFreedomAct as an unnecessary federal take over of elections, but history shows federal involvement is often very necessary to protect voting rights for all Americans.

Disappointing to see the Senate reject this urgent responsibility tonight.