Press Release: New Texas Poll Finds Bipartisan Support for Expanded Voter Access, Enhanced Accountability in Texas Elections

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2021

Contact: Jennifer Harris
jharris@jwhcommunications.com | 512-773-7168

New Texas Poll Finds Bipartisan Support for Expanded Voter Access, Enhanced Accountability in Texas Elections

Vast majority of Texas voters believe Texas elections went well, report a good experience voting in 2020, and oppose new voting restrictions

AUSTIN, Texas — Eighty-six percent of Texans believe the 2020 elections in Texas went well, and 97% reported a good personal experience voting, according to a new statewide poll released today by Secure Democracy. Leading Republican pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research Partners also found strong bipartisan support for policies and legislation that increase accessibility and accountability within the Texas election system.

Among the key findings, there is general, bipartisan support across Texas for:

●      Extend early voting by one week: 73% of all voters support; 58% of Republican voters support

●      Increase number of polling locations: 84% of all voters support; 80% of Republican voters support

●      Electronic ballot tracking system for mail-in ballots: 83% of all voters support; 75% of Republican voters support

●      Regular voter roll audits: 91% of all voters support; 94% of Republican voters support

●      Investigate before canceling voter registration: 84% of all voters support; 86% of Republican voters support

Texas voters also overwhelmingly support voter access and oppose the threat of felony prosecution when it minimizes voter assistance:

●      Voters should have necessary assistance returning ballots: 81% of all voters support; 75% of Republican voters support

●      Threatening with felony prosecution for an accidental vote:  61% of all voters oppose, 51% of Republican voters oppose

●      Felony for providing assistance: 62% of voters said no to felony charge and 73% said no to felony charge for assisting more than three voters.

"Accessibility and accountability within Texas election systems receive strong support among Texas voters," said Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research Partners. "Texans want to expand the accessibility of early voting and expand the number of polling locations available on election day. Further, Texas voters are ready to increase the election system's accountability and support regular voter roll audits and an auditable tracking system for mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines. Voters are not interested in using the threat of felony prosecution when it minimizes voter assistance.”

Perkins added, “Overall, Texas voters see the Texas election system as well managed and do not believe significant voter fraud occurred in Texas."

"Texas voters across the state, including strong majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independent, want policies that continue to improve voter access and bolster election integrity without being excessively restrictive," said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. "There’s clear confidence in Texas elections. Texas lawmakers can and should unite to advance common-sense election integrity measures that will help ensure voter access and accountability in Texas elections.”

Commissioned by Secure Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States, the Ragnar Research Partners poll of 1,002 Likely Voters across Texas was conducted, March 7 through March 9, 2021, via live callers to landlines and cellphones and has a margin of error of +3%.

The full memo from Ragnar Research Partners can be found here.

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Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. They educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting system, and collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose, of justice, equality and the common good. Online at secure-democracy.org.