60 days left until the election
Polling places
Regarding “HISD considering onlineonly classes on Election Day,” (A15, Sept. 2): Why are we allowing the schools to be used as polling locations in the first place? We are trying to protect our students by providing only one entrance, checking IDs and providing badges when visiting. But on Election Day anyone can enter without vetting. It just seems to go against all the precautions put in place to keep schools safe. Churches, libraries and civic centers are better locations. Dawn Miller, Houston
Mail-in voting
Regarding “Know your rights,” (A13, Sept. 1): I am concerned that as long as there is any ambiguity, real or imagined, about eligibility for a person voting by mail, chaos will result. I can foresee challenges, after the election date, to disqualify all ballots where a voter is not explicitly included as eligible. I will vote by mail because I am older and am in the high-risk category for COVID-19. If I was younger and healthier, I would take precautions and look for an early voting location that was not overcrowded. It is too important to risk not having your vote counted. Thomas B Malloy Jr., Tomball
There is no question that those legally entitled to vote absentee by mail will be able to do so without problems. To do so, the voter must take the proactive step to request an absentee ballot. The question is now what happens when someone receives an unsolicited ballot application in the mail, doesn’t understand the rules and goes ahead and uses it even though they may not be legally entitled to do so. That will certainly raise the question if that ballot is legally valid, and there could be legal challenges about those votes from either side (likely the side behind on Election Day).
That would be a shame on a couple of counts. First, that voter could have simply voted in person and not risk having their vote disqualified. There is little risk in voting in person since early voting has been extended and protections for COVID-19 are being well managed at the polling places. Second, it would certainly add to the chaos on Election Day in what will likely be a chaotic election anyway. Why would you want to risk potentially disenfranchising voters and add chaos to the election? Thomas McCaig, Katy
District 2
Regarding “Crenshaw goes patriotic, not partisan at RNC,” (A18, Aug. 28): Rep. Dan Crenshaw let District 2 down. He recently voted against more funding for the U.S. Postal Service. Veterans need the post office to get their medicine, Social Security checks and more. This action, or inaction, by Crenshaw shows his lack of care for fellow veterans or his constituents. Time to vote him out. Frank Mott, Houston
BIBLE VERSE
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:16