League of Women Voters Responds to Ruling on Ballot Drop-off Locations
LWV Texas | Published on 10/2/2020
A federal judge ruled on Friday evening that Governor Abbott’s Oct. 1 proclamation limiting drop-off locations for mail ballots to one per county discriminated against the elderly and disabled Texans, especially in more populous counties. These voters are most likely to request a mail-in ballot and to hand-deliver those ballots to ensure that their votes are counted.
The judge also noted that Governor Abbott’s limitation on locations added an unacceptable amount of voter confusion, particularly because it came after voters had already begun receiving absentee ballots, and some counties had already started accepting hand-delivery of mail ballots.
"This is a win for the people of Texas and especially the vulnerable voters in Harris County - our seniors, our friends and family with disabilities or compromised health conditions," said Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. "Our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. We encourage all eligible Texans to have the confidence and information they need to cast their ballots safely."
This is the first election without straight party ticket voting. It is more important than ever to learn about the all the candidates on the ballot. The nonpartisan Voters Guide is available in a printable format inEnglishand Spanishand on the interactive
VOTE411.org platform.
It is a useful tool voters can use to compare candidates, select who they plan to vote for, and print personalized ballots they can bring to the polls.
All the information Texans need to cast their ballots as informed, confident voters is available on the League website: lwvtexas.org. The League of Women Voters is the most trusted source of nonpartisan voter information in the country. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for elected office.
Voters encountering any problems at the polls should call the
Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
Texas Election Protection is a coalition of organizations and volunteers. They make up the largest non-partisan voter protection effort, working together to ensure the rights of all voters in Texas are upheld.