Vote.org Statement on Anti-Voter Ruling from the Fifth Circuit on Texas “Wet Signature” Lawsuit

WASHINGTON –Vote.org, the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America, released the following statement after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to uphold Texas’ “wet signature” law –House Bill 3107– from being enforced. This arbitrary and antiquated law disproportionately burdens underrepresented voters, creating a real barrier to voting across the Lone Star State.

“Texas voters deserve a government that protects access to the ballot box and is truly representative of all Texans no matter their race, sex, zip code or socio-economic status. While we disagree with the decision to uphold Texas’ wet signature law, we are encouraged by the court’s recognition that individuals and organizations like Vote.org have the right to enforce the Civil Rights Act against state election officials that attempt to subvert elections and disenfranchise voters. The court also recognized that Vote.org in particular has a right to protect the voters it serves through litigation. That is a big win for voting rights,” said Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org. “Since 2020, 49 states have introduced voter suppression laws with one simple goal: to disenfranchise many voters, especially younger voters and people of color. Vote.org will continue to fight against wet signature laws and other tools of suppression that seek to inhibit political engagement or prevent the use of technology to simplify the voting process."

“In this case, the state’s so-called ‘wet signature’ law created barriers for voters in making their voices heard. If a voter does not have access to a printer or ample time to jump through administrative hoops, they could find themselves unable to vote. This is not new. Wet signature laws and other arbitrary voting requirements mirror the types of discriminatory practices that were tailor-made to prevent people of color from accessing the vote for more than a century after the ratification of the 15th Amendment. We will keep fighting. We will keep standing up for voters against the tide of voter suppression and we will keep using technology and our best-in-class program to provide voters with the tools they need to overcome these obstacles – though they shouldn’t need to overcome them in the first place. We look forward to continuing this fight for voters and for a more just democracy.”

Vote.org also has pending “wet signature” lawsuits in two additional states: Florida and Georgia. While the provisions and enforcement mechanisms are different, the impact and goal of each of those laws is similar to Texas’. To help voters overcome these types of restrictions, Vote.org runs a “Print & Mail” program, which allows voters in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas to request that Vote.org print and mail them voter forms so they can complete all the necessary processes. Not having stamps or a printer shouldn't be a barrier to voting, but some states still require voter registration forms and vote-by-mail ballot applications to be printed, signed with a pen and mailed.

Vote.org is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit using technology to simplify political engagement and increase turnout among young people and voters of color. For the 2023 Election cycle, voters have used Vote.org’s tools hundreds of thousands of times, including helping 279,400 voters register and 537,300 voters verify their registrations. Compared to October of 2021, in October 2023, Vote.org helped to generate a 146.1% increase in voter registrations and a 129.3% increase in registration verifications. Throughout 2023, Vote.org sent more than 24,023,000 election reminders to voters to help them understand how, where, and when to vote.

On Election Day 2023, Vote.org had 442,000 total visits to its website. Among those visits, 69,000 came from Texas. In Texas, youth registrations spiked by more than 1600% this October as compared to October 2021.

2023 Election Cycle Tool Usage on Vote.org from Voters in Texas, Comparisons to 2021 Cycle

• 36,000 registrations in Texas, 81% of those were from voters under 35

  • 351% increase in total registrations compared to 2021 cycle

• 69,000 verifications in Texas, 48% of those were from voters under 35

  • 137% increase in total verifications compared to 2021 cycle

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ABOUT VOTE.ORG

Vote.org is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit using technology to simplify political engagement and increase turnout among young people and voters of color. It is the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America. Through corporate and nonprofit partnerships, a large-scale community of grassroots donors, diverse coalition building and influencer-driven outreach, Vote.org leverages innovative solutions that meet underserved voters where they engage and get their information, and has established its brand as the most trusted and accessible online resource for registering to vote and understanding how to cast a ballot.