Eustorgia Santos de Torres, 67, of Alamo, became a citizen and cast her first ballot in the March primary after getting help from LUPE, a Rio Grande Valley nonprofit. Last month, she sought LUPE's help with her husband Nemorio's mail ballot. He is blind and a U.S.-born citizen. LUPE workers turned the couple away, though they were reluctant to do so.
A 2021 Texas law, known as SB1, makes it illegal for anyone to be paid for helping voters fill out their ballots. It also covers common past practices, such as giving volunteers gas money or stipends. A violation is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican running in the U.S. Senate race, has investigated and prosecuted voting rights groups and organizers in heavily Latino communities.
LUPE, which helps about 30,000 people a year, used to send workers door to door to help voters. Now it asks volunteers to do more limited work. Executive Director Tania Chavez Camacho said the restrictions are a real pain point for the group, which is known for one-on-one help in the Latino community. Texas limits who can vote by mail, but people over 65 are allowed to do so.