Urge Governor Abbott to Address Election Integrity
Can we afford to allow our broken election systems to remain unaddressed through another election cycle?
September 28, 2023 | Austin, TX
Can we afford to allow our broken election systems to remain unaddressed through another election cycle? Governor Gregg Abbott can do something meaningful by calling a special session to address it.
You may not have heard, as the news seems to have been buried, but the software company that all election machines are built around has been indicted by our own Department of Justice. However, the charges do not involve any activity in the U.S., but rather in the Philippines.
Mark Finchem, a former Arizona state representative discussed the charges in his Substack column, stating, “The money was to influence the awarding of contracts for SmartMatic equipped devices that have been proven to alter election results, and specifically for rigging elections in the Philippines.
“The charging documents reveal, at least four Smartmatic executives used “slush funds” and “fake contracts” to facilitate alleged bribes, masking the money transfer actions using fake email accounts.”
A determined, conservative prosecutor in Miami is responsible for the work that went into the case, having simply followed the money.
If it can happen in the Philippines, what are the chances it is an isolated incident?
This is not an issue that can be allowed to continue. Here is a reminder of what was not accomplished on the critical issue of election integrity in the 88th legislative session:
Election Integrity wins and losses
X HB 2020 - Allows the Secretary of State to intervene when counties won’t replace failed elections administrators.
X SB 1039 - Creates a procedure that requires response to complaints of election irregularities.
X SB 1911 - Increases penalties for failing to deliver election supplies, obstruction of the distribution of supplies, and revealing election results before polls close.
✓ SB 1933 - Authorizes the Secretary of State to conduct random election audits in smaller counties with recurring problems.
X SB 1907 - Increases the penalty for failing to deliver returns by the deadline and allows the Secretary of State to supervise completion of the returns.
X SB 1950 - Prohibits election officials from suspending any mail-in ballot acceptance requirements.
X SB 260 - Clarifies process for registrars to confirm residence of voters who register at non-traditional addresses or haven’t voted in last two federal cycles.
X HB 2728 - The Secretary of State may not certify voting machines incapable of updating in real time every 10 minutes.
X HB 4329 - Requires voters to declare their address as the place they habitually sleep.
X HB 4548 - Registrars must provide the range of ballot serial numbers provided to voters, including spoiled ballots.
X HB 4719 - Requires that the Secretary of State appoint a dedicated cybersecurity expert to protect election data and prohibits use of electronics capable of an internet connection.
X HB 4733 - Prohibits ballot scanners from being connected to storage devices capable of modifying scanned ballots.
✓ SB 1661 - Prohibits the state from buying or using scanners unless they can only be used as a storage device, cannot be overridden, or have the dates changed once entered.
X HB 3611 - Bans ranked choice voting in Texas.
✓ HB 5180 - Requires general public to be able to view anonymously voted ballots, cast vote records, and ballot images within 61 days of an election.
X SB 2/HB 4198 - Returns to a felony the crime of illegal voting.
X SB 1938 - Extends the ability of the Secretary of State to withhold Chapter 19 funds if registrars fail to clean voter rolls.
✓ SB 1070/HB 2800 - Bars Texas from participating in ERiC, a controversial voter roll interstate cross check program.
X SB 1927 - Creates a special prosecutor to deal with election crimes.
Take Action
1) Contact Governor Abbott’s office and urge him to call a special session addressing election integrity.
Online:
Visit gov.texas.gov/apps/contact-us/opinion, enter your contact information, select “Elections” as the issue, and leave your message.
Phone:
512-463-2000