Texas Republicans push to invalidate 127,000 ballots

[RandySF]

For 18 days of early voting, Harris County residents waited in line, had their identities verified by poll workers, and cast their votes in a presidential election that has seen record-breaking early turnout.

But for the nearly 127,000 people who did so at drive-thru polling places instead of in traditional indoor sites, many are now watching with fear as a wealthy conservative activist, a Republican state representative and two GOP candidates aim to throw out their ballots at the last minute. In the state’s most populous — and largely Democratic — county, drive-thru voters are left anxiously awaiting court decisions before Election Day on Tuesday that could force them to go back to the polls. Likely many more are unaware of their votes' potential demise.

The Republican legal effort could jeopardize 10% of the in-person early votes that were cast at 10 drive-thru polling places throughout the county — a vote count higher than the entire early vote total in Nueces County, home of Corpus Christi and the state's 16th most populous county.

Two lawsuits by the group of plaintiffs have been filed in recent days after a similar challenge was already rejected by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court.





https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/31/harris-county-drive-thru-votes/

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. if they get away with this, we really are no longer a democracy.

[kurtcagle]

2. Texas has not been a democracy for a while now

The one think that I can see (and expect to happen) is that if the conservative judge rules against, this will be pushed up to the circuit courts. These people have voted. There is no stipulation anywhere that places the requirements that voters vote indoors. These votes are still there, and will either be counted or it gets pushed up to the SC.

[Claustrum]

3. I don't understand this. If republicans wanted to sue, they should have done it before it was setup.

It shouldn't be allowed to invalidated previously "allowed" methods after the fact.

[Renew Deal]

4. The article points that out.

That this procedure was announced months ago and they only complained on 10/15. 2-3 courts have rejected the case so far.

[Midnight Writer]

5. And that should be part of the defense against them.

[MiniMe]

6. I got an email today from the state board of elections

saying Good news! Your local board of elections has counted your ballot. This was from Maryland.

[Hoyt]

7. Worst case at this point, Judge will rule ballots have to be identified, but won't

invalidate them right away.

Best case, Judge will say this crud needs to stop.