Judge halts governor’s order cutting mail ballot sites

AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge in Texas on Friday halted Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that shuttered dozens of mail ballot dropoff sites weeks before November’s election, authorizing only one for every county no matter the size.

Abbott’s order dramatically reduced the number of places in Texas where voters could drop off mail ballots during early voting and most heavily impacted the state’s largest cities, which are also Democratic strongholds. He issued the order Oct. 1 as voters had already begun returning ballots for the Nov. 3 election.

The move brought swift accusations of voter suppression from Democrats and voting rights groups, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, which filed a lawsuit over the order earlier in October.

In a 46page opinion, U. S. District Judge Robert Pitman of Austin said “the public interest is not served by Texas’ continued enforcement of a proclamation plaintiffs have shown likely violates their fundamental right to vote. This factor therefore weighs in favor of a preliminary injunction.”

Gilberto Hinojosa, Texas Democratic Party chairman, said in a statement that Pitman’s decision stopped the governor from “making up“election rules after the election started.

“This important ruling stands up not just for voters but for the Rule of Law,“he added. “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 the reduction in dropoff sites is necessary to ensure election security. Abbott’s order also emphasized that poll watchers can observe ballot deliveries, which comes as President Trump urges his supporters to go to polling places and “watch very carefully,” raising concerns about possible voter intimidation.

Texas is one of just five states not allowing widespread mailin voting this year. Polls show unusually tight races in America’s biggest red state and Democrats

could take over the state House of Representatives for the first time in 20 years.

Courts have sided with GOP leaders who say fear of catching COVID19 doesn’t qualify voters to receive mailin ballots.

Nowhere in Texas lost more dropoff sites than Harris County, which includes Houston and is home to 5 million people. The county — a key battleground in Texas — was forced to close 11 dropoff locations.

Acacia Coronado is an Associated Press writer.