Fight for Freedom!
President Biden is making every effort to save our freedom to vote through national legislation. Two Democrats and all Republicans in the Senate oppose freedom to vote legislation. Labor leads a mighty coalition of progressive organizations fighting for freedom.
Those who defend freedom are determined to vote this year. Your Dallas AFL-CIO is gaining an unprecedented team of volunteers. Contact political director Mariah Warwick at political.dallasaflcio@gmail.com to join us. This battle cannot possibly end before November!
Texas Rights Are Already in Crisis
Texas AFL-CIO Communications Director Ed Sills reports that hundreds of vote-by-mail applications are being held up due to the new requirements from the 2021 Texas Legislature. Meanwhile, the National AFL-CIO calls on all of us to call senators to get voting rights legislation that would override anti-voting laws like those here.
The main holdup with vote-by-mail (VBM) applications may be the new identification requirements. If voters put one form of identification on their voter registration and another on their VBM application, county authorities have to hold it at least until the “curing” process can resolve the issue. Texas Alliance for Retired Americans leader Jan Lance of Austin suggests that applicants put BOTH their Texas Drivers License number AND the last four digits of their Social Security number on applications.
Another possible problem might be that applicants thought they could use last year’s forms. It is also possible that people simply cannot read the tiny type used in the instructions.
There is a process called “curing” that should eventually get all the applications approved. Eligible voters continue to apply for VBM because they know that the Texas Legislature has also constructed more barriers to voting-in-person.
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jan 15, 11A: On Zoom. DART board member Jon Killen will be joining DSA Ecosocialist Group to talk transit. Register here
Jan 16-17: AFL-CIO MLK Civil Rights Conference on-line ($35-$50) Register here
Jan 28: Dallas Civil Courts scheduled to resume jury summonses
Jan 31: Deadline for applications for Texas AFL-CIO scholarships
Jan 31: Deadline for Union Plus scholarship applications
Feb 18: Last day for election authorities to receive application for a ballot to vote-by-mail
Jan 19, 1P: Texas Alliance for Retired Americans convention on-line. Contact Judy Bryant 214-729-0063
Jan 20-21: Texas AFL-CIO political convention on-line
Jan 31: Last day to register to vote for the Primary election
Feb 14: First day of early voting. Tentative: downtown Dallas rally to encourage turnout
Feb 18: Last day for county elections offices to receive application for a ballot to vote by mail
Feb 25: Early voting ends
Mar 1: Election day
Jun 13-15: National AFL-CIO Convention tentatively in Philadelphia