AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke announced his team will launch an awareness campaign to 2 million Texans about voting rule changes under new state election laws.

O’Rourke announced the campaign to a group of reporters outside the Texas capitol on Friday, where horns and cheers from drivers recognizing the Democrat frequently interrupted his remarks.

The former congressman from El Paso said the campaign was in response to the US Senate’s failure to pass federal voting rights legislation, which was partly designed to fix new Republican state laws like Texas.

“Texas has been at the epicenter of this fight for the right to vote,” O’Rourke said. “We realize that the federal government or anyone else is not going to help us in Texas. It’s up to us to help each other and that’s how we’re going to do it.

Starting in February, more than 44,000 O’Rourke’s campaign volunteers will launch a blitz of door-to-door, phone calls, texts and letters to educate voters on navigating the changes passed. by Senate Bill 1, dubbed by Republicans “election integrity.” ” Invoice.

“Immediately, we can make sure we educate each other on what it takes to vote now in Texas,” O’Rourke said. “So that no one – whether Republican, Democrat, Independent or otherwise – is denied this critically important constitutional right to be heard in our democracy.”

Texas lawmakers passed sweeping changes to its election laws in the fall of 2021, adding more voting restrictions after Democrats spent months protesting what they say are efforts to weaken minority turnout. and preserve GOP dominance.

O’Rourke also said he hopes this campaign will help clear up the confusion some voters are feeling around the changed rules for requesting an absentee ballot – an issue that is receiving increasing attention after several counties reported having to reject high percentages of voter applications.

These new rules require voters to provide the identification number they used when they first registered to vote in Texas, either their driver’s license or their Social Security number. However, if this number does not match what is recorded, their request to vote by mail will be automatically rejected. Texans can reapply if they’re rejected, and it’s suggested they provide both numbers if they don’t remember them. However, local county election officials are not allowed to tell voters this, as it may be seen as promoting mail-in voting – which is now illegal under SB 1.

“That’s because this new law was meant to make it harder to vote. And it looks like it’s working,” O’Rourke said.

Republicans have repeatedly defended their law, saying it would help prevent voter fraud and make voting easier, often pointing to a provision that increases the minimum hours for early voting.

Texans have just 10 days left to register to vote in the March 1 primary election, where voters will select candidates for either the Democratic or Republican parties in statewide races. Texans can check their registration status here. More information on how to register to vote or request mail-in ballots can also be found on the Texas Secretary of State’s website.