Republican Voter Registration Challenge Has Several of Houston's Homeless Shelters On It
A detailed look at the list of challenges to the voter registration rolls filed by Harris County Republican Party Ballot Security Committee Chairman Alan Vera reveals that individuals using facilities dedicated to the homeless as residency addresses were among the 4,000 people targeted.
The challenges were filed by Vera on July 30 with Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Ann Bennett Harris’ office. Texas election laws state that any registered voter may challenge the legitimacy of any other voters he or she may suspect are not using their home address on their official paperwork. Vera’s list included office parks, warehouses and UPS stores.
In addition, the challenge list had a startling number of facilities used by homeless people in the Houston area. The Beacon at 1212 Prairie had 15 such challenges. When contacted, The Beacon said that they partner with COMPASS, a group dedicated to helping the disadvantaged through employment and other means, to allow people staying at the shelter to receive their mail, including government documents such as voter registration paperwork. The Beacon is also where many of the people temporarily staying with the Salvation Army on North Main Street are referred to. The Salvation Army was listed in 23 challenges, despite the fact that the organization does not allow people to use it as a mail service.
Star of Hope Mission, Healthcare for the Homeless and The Hope Center were also among the challenged addresses. Aable Bail Bonds had 18 challenges, likely because they formerly ran a bunkhouse for homeless clients on the second floor.
Read more: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-homeless-have-voting-status-challenged-10798033