Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
The county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law. Full Story
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Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. She has covered a range of topics as a community journalist including local government, public safety, immigration and social issues. Natalia previously reported for the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on impacts of government policies on communities of color. Natalia previously worked at the Indianapolis Star, where she helped launch the first Spanish-language newsletter, and at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in Mexico and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is based in Corpus Christi.
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![The Harris County Clerk’s Office Elections Department presentation at DeBakey High School Civics Club’s voter education conference in Houston on April 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Election experts cautious as Abbott touts voter roll purge
Federal and state law already required voter roll maintenance. Experts warn the governor’s framing of this routine process could be used to undermine trust in elections. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott makes an economic development announcement in Austin on Mar. 1, 2024. The press conference took place in front of the Governor's Mansion.]()
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A new database could give state officials more oversight of Texas’ voter rolls
State election officials say a revamped database all Texas counties can use would allow them to better monitor and clean up voter lists. An upgrade is due next year. Full Story
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![A voter registration box at the elections office in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022]()
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Texas will send inspectors to monitor 2024 elections in Harris County
An audit by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office found improved elections procedures, but the office is sending monitors because of past problems. Full Story
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![Harris County Elections Staff members sort ballot bags at the Elections Technology Center in northwest Houston on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Here’s how to vote in the Texas 2024 election
Election day is Nov. 5. Here is everything you need to know about casting a ballot in Texas. Full Story
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Texas election officials are dealing with a flood of challenges to voter registrations
Conservative groups and individual activists have targeted tens of thousands of Texans over their eligibility. But state and federal protections are in place. Full Story
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![Voter registration applications hang in a holder inside of the Elections Office in Fredericksburg on Mar. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas activist frustrates election officials with lawsuit about threat to ballot secrecy
Laura Pressley claims she found an “algorithmic pattern” that links voters to their ballots. But she won’t make it public. Full Story
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![Laura Pressley and an illustration of public records from court filings.]()
Credit: llustration by Elaine Cromie/Votebeat | Photo by Evan L’Roy/Texas Tribune | Public Records -
Fixing Texas’ ballot secrecy problems won’t be easy, experts say
The burden will fall on local officials to determine which records they’re obligated to release or redact. Full Story
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![Elijah and Melissa Lillo leave the Phillip Center in Gastonia after casting their votes in the North Carolina primary on March 5, 2024.]()
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Voter advocacy groups ask feds to step in after Texas allowed some voters’ ballots to be identified
The request comes as state and local officials undermined ballot secrecy in their bids for election transparency. Full Story
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![People walk past a 'Vote Here' sign outside of the Austin Oaks Church on Mar. 1, 2024. Early voting ends today for the primaries.]()
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Texas conservatives want to end countywide voting. The costs could be high.
More than 80% of the state’s registered voters can cast their ballot anywhere in the county on election day. Scrapping that option could lead to disenfranchisement, experts say. Full Story
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![A voter walks past an election sign on his way to vote at Cavazos Middle School in Lubbock on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune