Texas governor cuts the number of ballot drop-off boxes to 1 in each county
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a proclamation on Thursday limiting how many ballot drop-off locations there can be in each county.
Starting Friday, each county in the state can only have one drop-off location for voters to deposit their mail-in ballots. Harris County, a Democratic stronghold, is the largest county in Texas by population, and currently has 11 drop-off locations, while Travis County, home to Austin, has four. Tarrant, Dallas, and El Paso counties already only have one drop-off location, CNN reports.
Abbott said in a statement he decided to cut the number of drop-off locations "to maintain the integrity of our elections. ... These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, said in a statement Abbott's move is a "blatant voter suppression tactic," while former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro tweeted that Abbott is "making it harder for fellow Texans to vote because he knows how angry Texans are with [President] Trump's failure, [Republican Sen. John] Cornyn's failure, and his own to keep Texans safe and our people working."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 12, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - male magnetism, denial in a deluge, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 conspiratorial cartoons about FEMA
Cartoons Artists take on paper towel politics, king-sized conspiracies, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Take an island-hopping trip around Brittany
The Week Recommends From neolithic monuments to colourful harbours, there is much to discover
By The Week UK Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published