What You Should Know About Mail-In Voting in Texas
In today’s tight labor market, trust and clarity matter — not just in your workplace policies, but in the systems that support your workforce beyond the office. That includes elections.
A recent peer-reviewed study by researchers from Columbia University, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Tennessee State University examines the real-world impacts of a change to Texas’ mail voting rules. Their findings should matter to employers who care about employee engagement, community trust, and reducing unnecessary friction in public systems.
The Law: Senate Bill 1 (SB1)
Passed in 2021, SB1 added new ID requirements for Texans voting by mail. Voters had to write either the ID they originally used to register (typically a driver’s license or Social Security number) — and if they entered the wrong one, their ballot or application could be rejected. The ID field was also placed in a hard-to-notice spot on the ballot envelope.
This one rule change introduced confusion for many voters, especially longtime participants in the system.
The Impact in Numbers
Here’s what the study found:
Over 215,000 Texans applied to vote by mail in the 2022 primary.
More than 23,000 of those applications or ballots were rejected because the ID didn’t match registration records — a sharp increase from prior years.
Roughly 27,000 voters never cast a ballot at all after receiving a rejection.
And these weren’t occasional voters — over 85% had participated in the last three major elections.
These issues didn’t just affect 2022. The study shows long-lasting effects:
Voters who had their applications rejected in the 2022 primary were 16 percentage points less likely to vote that November.
Two years later, in the 2024 primary, their turnout was still 7–10 points lower.
Even among those who did vote again, many shifted away from mail ballots to in-person voting — a sign that trust or convenience had been compromised.
Why It Matters to Business Leaders
This isn’t about politics. It’s about systems that work the way people expect them to.
Your employees already navigate complex healthcare, retirement, and tax systems. When something as basic as voting feels unpredictable or unclear — especially to high-participation citizens — it adds to the sense that essential systems aren’t working. And when that sense is strongest among certain racial or language groups, it can reinforce deeper concerns about inclusion and equity.
As business leaders, we don’t run elections — but we do play a role in how people engage with them. We support time off to vote, civic engagement programs, and internal messages that help people plan ahead.
That’s why understanding laws like SB1 matters. It gives us insight into where our teams might need better information, early planning, or alternative options like in-person early voting.
Takeaways for Your Workplace
Plan ahead: If your employees vote by mail, especially in Texas, make sure they understand how to fill out ID fields correctly — and know where that field is located.
Encourage early action: Rejected applications often leave voters without enough time to reapply. Early voting or in-person options can provide a backup.
Support nonpartisan education: Provide resources that help all employees understand the voting process — without telling them how to vote.
Recognize long-term impacts: One bad experience can turn habitual voters into non-voters. Helping prevent those experiences is a long-term investment in civic trust.
Bottom Line
When people encounter unexpected barriers in essential systems — especially ones they’ve used for years — it creates frustration, disengagement, and inequity. As business leaders, we know the value of reducing friction and supporting participation. That includes helping our teams navigate the voting process with clarity and confidence.
For a healthy economy, thriving democracy, and resilient workforce, we all benefit when systems work better for everyone.