Overview
SB1 requires voters to have a consistent signature and be able to sign with ink on paper. People with neurological disabilities change their signatures from time to time and may need a signature stamp; hence, they will be banned from voting. The bill has added excessive requirements to voting assistants, such as signing an affirmation that they did not influence their selection as an assistant. Any mistakes made in mailed forms will attract increased penalties for assistants, scaring them away from helping. There is an urgency to end continued discrimination against people with disabilities in the election process (Cassen Wiess, 2021). My support for SB1 changes aims at improving the representation of people with disabilities, thereby increasing their impact on policymaking and obtaining their rights.
Background
If people with disabilities do not access the election process, their civil rights to choosing representatives will be violated. The larger implication is marginalization from lack of representatives in policy and law-making offices as SB1 “hampers voting by minority voters and disabled people” (Cassen Wiess, 2021). Texans with disabilities incur extra costs in paying their postage charges when voting via mail or transporting their assistants when voting in person. The current approach is not working because it will prevent most people with disabilities from exercising their voting rights. This affects 28% of Texans, as 5,764,167, or one in every four adults, are living with disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). The strenuous requirements for signing will cause stress for persons with neurological conditions and trigger episodes.
Voting Rights Act (1965)
SB1 violates the Voter Rights Act (1965) by making it difficult for Texans with disabilities and minorities to access the process. VRA enabled minority groups living in Texas, including Hispanics and Blacks, to vote (Johnson, 2019). Texas laws intimidate and suppress voters by limiting who can vote by mail and online registration, asking voters to pay their postage fees, and imposing onerous requirements for its citizens wishing to vote (McCormick, 2022). Therefore, it is not an issue of poor planning by county officials.
Shelby County v Holder
The Shelby County v Holder ruling had a negative impact on Texans with disabilities because it allowed the enforcement of stricter requirements, such as the SB1. Texas immediately enforced its Photo ID law that required voters to present unexpired photo IDs of six documents. Consequently, more than 600,000 voters were locked out due to non-compliance with this law (The effects of Shelby County v Holder, 2018). I do not agree with the Shelby County v Holder ruling that discriminatory and racial voter suppression is over because of the onerous requirements for registration and voting. Therefore, equality in the system would mean that every citizen registers and casts their ballots.
Recommendations
My recommendation is to ease the requirements of registering and casting ballots to create accommodations for minority groups and Texans with disabilities. It is the best option because it will eliminate voter suppression and discrimination. Texas should enable most of its citizens to vote by creating equity in the election process and focusing on eradicating voter suppression even as it fights fraud. McCormick (2022) argues that “broadscale voter suppression efforts … contribute to leaders being unresponsive to voters.” Strict ID laws themselves made it impossible for 600,000 Texans to vote after the Shelby County v Holder ruling (The effects of Shelby County v Holder, 2018). While the Republicans who came up with SB1 may oppose my recommendation, ordinary citizens and Texans with disabilities will support it. The primary accommodation in SB1 and future legislation is to consider the input of every group through public participation. If the recommendation is not affected, lawsuits against SB1 will continue, Texans with disabilities will face marginalization, and civil unrest may result. Therefore, there is a need to change voting and electioneering processes and laws to strengthen democracy in Texas.
Implementation
My recommendations will be implemented by initiating an amendment of the SB1 by the Texas Legislature. It should involve public input following a public participation plan that designates locations for public meetings in towns and cities. Texans with disabilities, like every other citizen, will attend and participate in public meetings scheduled by the legislature. The amendment will receive input from ordinary citizens, including minority groups, those with disabilities, and minority groups. The election budget will increase because the government will pay postage fees for mailing registrations, and participating voters will drastically increase as more Texans can register and vote. Nonvisible disabilities will be addressed by accepting input from them and their representatives.
Conclusion
The goal of the recommendations is to grant every Texan their voting rights, allowing them to participate in nation-building through their representatives. The legislature should be concerned because SB1 is suppressing minorities and people with disabilities. Otherwise, minority groups will continue to be marginalized due to a lack of representation. There is a need for urgency in this matter to stop pending court cases, win back the support of the masses, and ensure everyone’s civil rights are protected in this year’s voting. The best strategies for improving accessibility are incorporating public participation at every step in the process and thoroughly vetting new bills on electioneering processes.
References
Cassen Wiess, D. (2021). Lawsuits challenging new voting restrictions in Texas cite these constitutional protections. American Bar Association. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Disability impacts Texas. Web.
Johnson, H. (2019). Vote Denial and Defense: A Strategic Enforcement Proposal for Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Geo. LJ, 108, 449.
McCormick, A. (2022). ‘We have a democracy problem’: How Texas voter suppression helps keep climate action off the tale. The Guardian. Web.
The effects of Shelby County v Holder. (2018). Brennan Center for Justice. Web.