Early voting scheduled to begin with virus precautions in place

Early voting begins 7 a.m. Monday in Harris County to decide primary runoff races, including closely watched contests for chances to seek congressional and local seats.

It will be a first test of voters’ comfort with new safety precautions as coronavirus cases steeply rise — and a first run for a new county clerk after long wait times plagued the primary March 3.

Races include a face-off between Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and GOP donor Kathaleen Wall for the Republican nomination to seek a congressional seat.

Democrats will choose between former Air Force pilot MJ

Hegar and state Sen. Royce West to challenge Sen. John Cornyn in November.

Those who prefer to apply to vote by mail must get their application in by July 2; those who are 65 or older qualify, as do those who are disabled.

The Texas Supreme Court has said its up to voters to decide whether — during the pan

demic — their chance of being infected means they fit under the disability provision.

Voters who wish to cast ballots early can go to any of 57 polling places, where layouts have been reworked to allow for social distancing.

There will be hand sanitizing stations, masks and gloves for poll workers and finger covers for voters.

Christopher Hollins has overseen the preparations in recent weeks. County commissioners appointed him county clerk after Diane Trautman resigned May 31, citing concerns for her health amid the pandemic.

Trautman, in a break from the past, allowed residents to visit any Election Day polling place. But the March 3 primary left voters enduring long waits.

Voter Hervis Rogers famously waited 6 hours to cast his ballot at Texas Southern University around 1 a.m.

While Trautman placed an equal number of Republican and Democrat voting machines at each center, Hollins has said he would re-allocate them for the runoff based on turnout.

He also said he would improve a faulty website meant to show wait times at each site.

Harris County voters will help decide 19 runoff races. The five Republican contests include candidates who want to run for Sheriff. Fourteen democratic ones include candidates seeking to be constables, judges and county commissioner.

Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 29 through July 2 and July 6 through July 9.

They will also open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 5 and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 10.

A list of polling sites and sample ballots can be found at harrisvotes.org.

Election day is July 14.