Harris County seeks extended early voting

Abbott urged to add at least a week for November election

Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins has asked Gov. Greg Abbott to extend the early voting period for the November general election to ensure residents can cast ballots safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to the governor Wednesday,

Hollins asked for at least one additional week of balloting, and urged Abbott to set a schedule by the end of July. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19; Election Day is Nov. 3.

“It is crucial that elections officials and voters know the amount of time early voting will take place so that the many required complicated elections plans may be undertaken,” Hollins wrote. “Without that information, full planning and preparation for this important election cannot be undertaken.”

A spokesman for Abbott did not respond to a request for comment.

Hollins noted that Abbott added extra days of early voting during the July primary runoffs, which were rescheduled from May because of the pandemic.

More than 1 million Harris County voters are expected to cast ballots in the November presidential election, which may be the highest-turnout contest in county history.

Hollins, who was appointed to the post in June, said elections officials must provide a way for voters to socially distance at the polls. They must also be able to provide personal protective equipment to election staff and convince enough of those workers to work during the outbreak.

In the July runoff, the county clerk’s office placed voting machines 6 feet apart, expanded curbside voting and provided masks and face shields to election workers, among other safety precautions.

The Harris County Democratic Party supports more early voting in the fall, chairwoman Lillie Schecter said, especially because the party unsuccessfully sought to expand mail-in voting.

The county Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment.

During the primary runoff, Hollins sent each voter 65 an older a mail ballot application, a departure from the previous practice of requiring voters to request one. An unusually high number of voters cast ballots in that election.