This is an anti-democratic bill.
HB 463 would change Texas law to prohibit persons who have been finally convicted of any felony from serving as poll watchers.
Poll watchers are tasked with literally watching our elections processes and alerting officials if any issues come up – they are a vital part ensuring our elections are free and fair.
Currently, the law does not allow anyone who has been “finally convicted of an offense in connection with conduct directly attributable to an election” to serve as a poll watcher. Poll watchers have to meet certain criteria in order to be designated as poll watchers.
Expanding the criteria to limit people from participating in this form of service simply because they have a felony conviction only further limits the democratic participation of Texans.
Given that Texas is one of the nation’s leaders in the criminalization of Black people and people of color, HB 463 stands as an example of yet another systemic barrier to democratic participation cfor BIPOC across Texas.
The codification of restrictions to civic participation shows up insidiously in our society. From jury service to casting a ballot, felony convictions are weaponized to purposefully people kept out of civic participation.
Black individuals are more likely to face incarceration across the nation, representing 40% of the incarcerated population despite representing only 13% of the US population. In an era defined by mass incarceration, Texas has the 6th highest state imprisonment rate in the nation.
Felony disenfranchisement is institutionalized racism, and HB 463 is a bill rooted in racism that will further disparities in political participation and representation. We should be focusing on policies that increase equity, accessibility, and participation in our democracy.
Poll watchers are a necessary part of our election infrastructure and our democracy. People who serve as poll watchers are serving their communities. HB 463 cannot be allowed to further limit who can participate in our democratic processes.