The Texas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements today in response to Governor Abbott’s order closing “multiple locations where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots.” The order limits counties to one ballot drop-off site.
“The progress we seek on gun safety and so many other critical issues depends on protecting everyone’s right to vote safely and easily,” said Liz Hanks, a volunteer with Texas Moms Demand Action and for local election protection groups in the state’s largest county impacted by the new order. “If Gov. Abbott and Texas Republicans had taken action on gun safety, perhaps they wouldn’t be so concerned about Texans exercising our right to vote. This undemocratic order is wrong, but we’ll make our voices heard regardless.”
“A vast majority of Texans support common-sense gun safety laws, and we have every right to make our voices heard,” said Devyn Moore, a volunteer with Young Women’s Leadership Academy Students Demand Action in San Antonio. “This is a shameful order making it harder for Texans to exercise our right to vote, but it won’t stop us – we’ll keep registering voters, helping people make their plans to vote, and electing gun sense champions up and down the ballot.”
According to the Austin-American Statesman, “Travis County has four dropoff locations, including three downtown that first opened Thursday, while Harris County has opened 12 locations as election officials worked to meet unprecedented demand for mail-in voting during the pandemic — particularly amid questions about the efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service.” Harris County, which encompasses more than 1,700 square miles, has nearly 5 million residents. Texas voters can text CONFIRM to 644-33 to confirm their registration status and make a plan to vote.
In April, following a virtual conversation with Fair Fight Action founder Stacey Abrams, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action released a set of principles to protect voting rights and expand voter access amid the coronavirus pandemic.