ST STIN, TEXAS – A federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled Republican Governance. Greg Abbott’s order, which shut down dozens of mail ballot drop-sites in the weeks leading up to the November election, was a one-size-fits-all affair for each county.
Abbott’s order led to a dramatic reduction in the number of places in Texas where voters could cast ballots during early voting and had a huge impact on the state’s largest cities, including the Democratic stronghold. He issued the order on October 1 as voters began voting for the November 3 election.
The move sparked sharp allegations of voter repression by voting rights groups, including Democrats and the United Latin American Citizens League, which filed a lawsuit in early October.
In a 46-page opinion, Aust Stein’s U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman said Texas does not serve the public interest and that the plaintiffs’ continued implementation of the declaration violated their fundamental right to vote. The weight of this factor is therefore in favor of the initial order. “
Texas Democratic Party President Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement that Pitman’s decision prevents the governor from “making” election rules once state elections begin.
“These important judgments are not only for the voters but also for the rule of law.” “This isn’t the first time Abbott and Texas Republicans have tried to suppress the vote, and it won’t be the last.”
Republicans say a reduction in drop-sites is needed to ensure election security. Abbott’s order also emphasized that poll observers could observe the distribution of ballots, which President Donald Trump told his supporters to go to the polls and “observe very carefully”, raising concerns about possible voter intimidation.
Texas is just one of five states that did not allow widespread mail-in voting this year. The poll shows an unusually tight race in America’s largest red state, and Democrats could take charge of the state House of Representatives for the first time in 20 years.
The courts Supported by leaders who say the fear of catching COV-19 does not qualify voters to receive a mail-in ballot. To be eligible for the mail-in ballot in Texas, voters must be over 65 years of age, from their county on election day, or disabled.
Nowhere in Texas have there been more drop-sites than Harris County, including Houston and 5 million people. The county – a major battlefield in Texas – was forced to close 11 drop-locations. On Wednesday, the Texas Supreme Court also ruled that Houston election officials could not send unsolicited mail ballot applications to 2 million registered voters.
U.S. The Postal Service informed Texas in July that, given the state’s current mail ballot request deadline, some ballots would not reach voters by election day, and even if all ballots reached voters on time, there was a “significant risk” that on election day or Nearby postmarked completed ballots will not be received by the state’s November 4 deadline.
Texas Secretary of State Fees has not responded to requests from the Associated Press to comment on his plans to ensure timely ballots.
