By: I. Sosa, HCoM intern
As Texas lawmakers advance bills that could reshape how and where residents vote, civil rights advocates are raising red flags—especially for voters from immigrant, low-income, and marginalized communities.
At the March 18 Houston Community Media briefing, four voting rights leaders—Emily French (Common Cause Texas), Carl Blair (Texas Civil Rights Project), Jesús Zamora (Mi Familia en Acción), and Katie Campbell Shumway (League of Women Voters of Houston)—laid out serious concerns about proposed legislation like Senate Bill 16 and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
“This is a solution in search of a problem,” said Emily French, director of policy at Common Cause Texas. “There’s no evidence that non-citizens are voting in any significant numbers.”
The proposed law would require Texans to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register or update voter information. Critics say the requirement adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and disproportionately affects recently naturalized citizens and married women—groups less likely to have immediate access to documents like passports or birth certificates.
“If this law had been in effect when I got married,” French added, “I would’ve had to go in person twice—once to change my name, and again to change my address—both with proof of citizenship.”
Polling Access Under Threat
Carl Blair warned of another growing concern: the potential rollback of countywide polling on Election Day. In nearly 90 counties across Texas, voters can currently cast their ballot at any polling location. A new push aims to revert to precinct-only voting—a move that could disproportionately hurt large urban counties like Harris.
“There’s bipartisan support for countywide polling—yet there’s still a push to abolish it and force people back to precinct-only voting,” Blair said.
He added that the move would only increase logistical hurdles and confusion, especially for working voters and those in transit-heavy cities.
Disconnected Systems, Disenfranchised Voters
Katie Campbell Shumway detailed how fractured government systems create major roadblocks for new citizens and those who change their names.
“The Social Security Administration, DPS, USCIS, and the voter registrar don’t talk to each other,” said Shumway. “So when someone becomes a citizen, they have to update every system themselves.”
This disconnect especially affects women.
“86% of married women change their last name—but if your ID doesn’t match your birth certificate, and you don’t have a current passport, you can’t register,” she said.
Fear and Silence in Communities of Color
Jesús Zamora described a chilling effect spreading through immigrant neighborhoods.
“We’ve seen parents afraid to send their kids to school or go to work. People are even avoiding community events,” said Zamora, who directs field operations for Mi Familia en Acción.
In response, his team is conducting door-to-door “Know Your Rights” campaigns in underserved areas like Alief, Aldine, and Spring Branch—working to replace fear with civic empowerment.
What You Can Do
Panelists urged attendees to act now, before legislative changes are locked in.
Suggestions included:
• Contact your state representatives weekly.
• Show up at local legislative offices if you can’t travel to Austin.
• Educate others: share voter guides, organize sessions in churches or schools.
• Sign up as a deputy voter registrar while the program is still active.
“One call isn’t enough,” Shumway advised. “Set a calendar reminder—Friday at lunch—and call every week. They track every contact.”
As the Texas legislative session unfolds, advocates warn that the right to vote is being reshaped in real-time—and the public must stay informed and engaged to defend it.
