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";s:4:"text";s:15696:"Election Day is Nov. 3. Contact your county elections office for more details about both options. Oct. 7, 20209 AM. Greg Abbott, who has refused calls to expand mail-in voting in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic, was sued Wednesday by prominent members of his own party who now want to halt the biggest change he instead ordered for November’s election — extending early voting by a week. In general, polling locations will have guidelines in place for social distancing and regular cleaning. Abbott’s limiting order on ballot drop-off locations, issued last week, is already the subject of four federal and state lawsuits brought by voters and voting rights advocates. Earlier this week, West released a statement suggesting without evidence that expanding voting access in any form in Texas would also invite fraud. The primaries were originally scheduled for May, but Abbott delayed them until July because of the coronavirus. You’ll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. Tell The Texas Tribune your voting story. Will Houston prepare for the next Laura before it’s too late? This is a developing story; check back for updates. Local officials are also implementing safety precautions at the polls, including getting creative with polling location choices, stocking up on sanitizer and mandating social distancing in lines. The suit also challenged Harris County’s plan to open multiple drop-off locations for absentee ballots, but Abbott last week issued an executive order limiting counties to one drop-off location. In July, Gov. The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 general election is Oct. 5. Texas voters can qualify for mail-in ballots if they are 65 years or older, have a disability or an illness, are confined in jail, according to the Texas secretary of state's office. To Expand Mail-In Ballot Drop-Off Locations In Texas, Gov. “Abbott’s Executive Orders are unprecedented and have had life and death implications, destroyed small businesses and family’s livelihoods, have had a crippling effect on every single community, and now have the ability to impact local, state and national elections,” the lawsuit stated. The 78,000 votes are way ahead of the 52,000 combined mail and in-person voting during the first day of early voting in 2016. An Abbott spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment. “We should be expanding early voting and vote by mail options, not cutting them,” Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman said. You can find eligibility requirements and review other questions about, Not always. Here’s why. Texans will be voting in the middle of a pandemic on congressional, legislative and state board seats. “I wanted to get it out of the way,” Linda Pompey said as she was leaving an early polling site of Wallisville Road on Tuesday. Greg Abbott Calls For New Crimes, Mandatory Jail Time For Certain Offenses Related To Protests. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The state's highest civil court, which is entirely held by Republicans, ruled that the GOP officials who challenged Abbott's extension waited until the last minute to do so, when the governor had already extended early voting in the primary election and announced he would do the same for the general months ago. Abbott's limiting order on ballot drop-off locations, issued last week, is already the subject of four federal and state lawsuits brought by voters and voting rights advocates. Greg Abbott ordered that early voting for the general election in Texas begin nearly a week earlier than usual, a response to the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have urged Texas' top Republican leaders to expand voting access during the pandemic, in particular by allowing more Texas voters to mail in their ballots — an option currently only available to voters who are 65 or over, confined in jail but otherwise eligible, out of the county during the voting period or who cite a disability. You’ll want to check for open polling locations with, Yes. This article from 2017 describes who can and can not vote by mail in Texas and why. El Paso County saw one of the biggest jumps in the state with almost 34,000 votes already in through early voting and mail-in balloting. Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. Greg Abbott’s Order, In New Email, Senior Aides Say Ken Paxton Used Power Of His Office To Benefit Political Donor Nate Paul, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Releases New Documents Shedding Light On Criminal Allegations, Early Voting Can Start Oct. 13 As Scheduled, Texas Supreme Court Rules, Texas Counties Temporarily Blocked From Offering Multiple Mail-In Ballot Drop-Off Locations, Gov. Early voting starts Monday for the primary runoff in Texas. In 2016, Harris County had just under 130,000 ballots submitted on the first day. The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 general election is Oct. 5. Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. The Texas Supreme Court ruled against several GOP officials who pushed to keep early voting to a two-week period during the pandemic. Note  Voting procedures may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has also recommended that they place markings on the floor to help people maintain social distancing in lines and place voting booths at least 6 feet apart. Yes. This website discusses what voters need to know to vote early in Texas. Early voting in Texas can begin Oct. 13, following the timeline the governor laid out months ago, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, rejecting a request from several top Texas Republicans to limit the timeframe for voters to cast their ballots. Texas is one of just a few states that hasn’t opened up mail-in voting to any voter concerned about getting COVID-19 at a polling place. Get highlights, trending news and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Video: Melissa Phillip Houston Chronicle, Laura Duclos Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News 2020 Voter Guide, On George Floyd’s birthday, Joe Biden releases ad featuring Floyd’s sister, Jill Biden’s visit proves that campaign is increasingly serious about Texas, Early voting opens with long lines at some Houston polling sites, glitches in Fort Bend, Harris County breaks record for the first day of early voting with hours to go before polls close, On-duty Katy police officer accused of stealing Walmart goods, switching price tags, Texas Republican Party sues Harris County over drive-thru voting, 'Never seen anything like it': Social media erupts on landmark first day of early voting in Texas, Spring man accused of making 'maniacal' online threats to pop singer Jake Miller's girlfriend, 'This is important': Texans flock to polls, smash Harris County early voting records, Judge rules part of Houston’s pension reform is unconstitutional, 5 takeaways from Chronicle investigation into spread of COVID, Harris County keeps its 'stay home' stance, even as state reopens, Progress on post-Harvey flood control efforts remains slow. 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