The Texas State House has reached a quorum and will begin work in the second special session that was called on August 5. The state legislature is expected to vote on House Bill 3, the anti-voter bill that will make it harder for tens of thousands of Texans to vote.  

Work in the second session was halted when more than 50 state legislators took the fight for our democracy to the nation’s capital and urged Congress to pass The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and The For the People Act. 

Statement from Common Cause Texas Associate Director Stephanie Gómez 

Each day Governor Abbott and Republican state legislators continue their war on our right to vote, more of our fellow Texans’ lives are at risk because of our leaders’ misplaced priorities. More than 75 hospitals have run out of ICU beds and more than 20,000 Texans are suffering from COVID-19. 

The people of Texas need Governor Abbot focused on putting an end to this pandemic—not our right to vote—so we can safely send our kids to school, re-open our small businesses, and get on with our lives.  

Any vote on any legislation that doesn’t seek to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of every Texan. Any vote on any legislation that adds barriers between voters and the ballot box is nothing but a desperate attempt to hold onto power.  

The Governor and his co-conspirators in the state legislature are proving exactly why we must make it easier for Texans to vote and hold our leaders accountable. We will never give up our fight for the voting rights of every Texan—Republican, Democrat, and Independent—no matter how many special sessions this Governor calls.  

At a time when our entire lives are being upended by COVID-19, the right to vote for leaders who put the needs of Texans ahead of their political aspirations has never been more important.