April 4, 2023
As part of our collective fight to advance equity in this state, the Texas Urban League Movement recognizes the critical moment that we find ourselves in. Our shared goals are critical and clear: we want safe and fair elections without additional, unnecessary barriers to the ballot box.
In pursuit of that goal, the Houston and Austin Urban League advocacy teams collaborated on bill research and drafted oral testimony in support of fair elections and voting rights at the Texas Capitol last week. Our recorded testimony noted the historical precedent of voter suppression bills set before the Senate Committee on State Affairs. We find that the bills set forth damage the public trust by slowing down the circulation of election results, removes accurate outcomes, and fails to restore integrity to our voting process. Additionally, there are bills being set forth that will cost counties more money to re-do entire elections.
Yasmin’s testimony was a call to action, creating a clear public record of dissent as the Houston Area Urban League and Austin Area Urban League oppose Senate Bill 220 and House Bill 2020.
Local elections and legislative decisions will have the most significant impact on the day to day lives of your family, your friends, and your community. The Texas Urban League Movement wants you to know who is making those decisions and how those decisions might impact daily life for generations to come.
With that, our work does not stop with public testimonies. We remain focused on expanding an informed voting body.
If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to protect democracy in Texas and support the interests of your community, please join us in Austin for DEMOCRACY DAY 2023 and head to https://www.haul.org/programs/social-justice/ to learn more about how you can take action.
Judson Robinson III
President & CEO
Houston Area Urban League
Quincy Dunlap
President & CEO
Austin Area Urban League