Posted on Jul 20, 2021
In Texas, Efforts To Make Voting Harder Have Some Worried In Harris County
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https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/ [login to see] /in-texas-efforts-to-make-voting-harder-has-some-worried-in-harris-county
Texas already has some of the strictest voting laws in the country, and the state's Republicans are trying to make them even tougher. Most of the state's Democratic lawmakers have flown to Washington, D.C., to prevent a vote on legislation they call voter suppression.
The center of the battle is Harris County, where Houston is located. The county is home to more than 4.7 million people, a larger population than the state of Louisiana. Last year, Harris County introduced an array of voting innovations to make it easier and safer to vote during the presidential elections. They included drive-thru voting, expanded voting hours – with one day of 24-hour voting – and sending out mail-in ballot applications to all eligible voters.
Joy Davis is a stay-at-home mom and the mother of a young son with severe autism. She voted in a drive-thru location on the east side of Houston.
"Oh, it was amazing," Davis says. "It was so convenient. I felt safe, because it was at the highlight of the pandemic before I was able to get any vaccinations....When I arrived, it was just so simple, so easy, so effortless. We just pulled up, showed my ID, they directed us to a tent, and you know we met with the poll worker there, they gave us the machine so we could cast our ballot, and that was it. I cast my ballot."
Texas already has some of the strictest voting laws in the country, and the state's Republicans are trying to make them even tougher. Most of the state's Democratic lawmakers have flown to Washington, D.C., to prevent a vote on legislation they call voter suppression.
The center of the battle is Harris County, where Houston is located. The county is home to more than 4.7 million people, a larger population than the state of Louisiana. Last year, Harris County introduced an array of voting innovations to make it easier and safer to vote during the presidential elections. They included drive-thru voting, expanded voting hours – with one day of 24-hour voting – and sending out mail-in ballot applications to all eligible voters.
Joy Davis is a stay-at-home mom and the mother of a young son with severe autism. She voted in a drive-thru location on the east side of Houston.
"Oh, it was amazing," Davis says. "It was so convenient. I felt safe, because it was at the highlight of the pandemic before I was able to get any vaccinations....When I arrived, it was just so simple, so easy, so effortless. We just pulled up, showed my ID, they directed us to a tent, and you know we met with the poll worker there, they gave us the machine so we could cast our ballot, and that was it. I cast my ballot."
In Texas, Efforts To Make Voting Harder Have Some Worried In Harris County
Posted from npr.org
State of Texas
Voting
Elections
Houston
Election 2020
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Voting is our most important right. It should not be made difficult. I recall back in the early '60's when I was active in voter registration drives. Hell, I was not even eligible to vote, but I participated in the drives. There were even ads on TV telling people that is was not only their right, it was their duty.
Now, because some chicken-shit Republicans are scared they no longer appeal to the public, they have to tip the scales in their favor.
Sad,,, and extremely dangerous to our Republic.
Now, because some chicken-shit Republicans are scared they no longer appeal to the public, they have to tip the scales in their favor.
Sad,,, and extremely dangerous to our Republic.
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MSgt Dale Johnson
MSG Stan Hutchison - Read through the whole thing, don't see how the ability to vote is being made so difficult as to hinder anyone IN THEIR RIGHT MIND to Vote. You have 17 days of early voting, times on certain days were reduced such as the "souls to the polls" caravan times, but they can still coordinate such an effort just not before noon on Sunday, but the bill does add some extra mandatory early voting time.
As a a concerned voter, I am sure that in there somewhere I could find the time to vote.
Seems to me the Democrat Representatives are the ones running amok with disaster on their minds, abandoning the positions they were elected to rather than doing their jobs and additionally spreading COVID amongst themselves in the process.
As a a concerned voter, I am sure that in there somewhere I could find the time to vote.
Seems to me the Democrat Representatives are the ones running amok with disaster on their minds, abandoning the positions they were elected to rather than doing their jobs and additionally spreading COVID amongst themselves in the process.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
MSgt Dale Johnson - Here is the thing; if citizens feel they are being imposed on, if they feel voting will be harder, then they will be less likely to vote. Why change something that works, especially when no valid reason can shown?
A solution to a non-existent problem.
A solution to a non-existent problem.
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MSgt Dale Johnson
Sorry but you are coming off sounding a bit whiney, IMHO the changes in the article will make very little overall difference.
If I were you I'd be more focused on your Representatives that have twice now left so that the Texas Legislature is wasting taxpayers money for being in session without a Quorum. Sucks to be in a position that you can't win on a vote. Best they can do is throw a CHILDISH temper tantrum to stop ALL other Texans who elected the Majority from being dutifully represented as they should be. Again IMHO they should be censored and forfeit their salaries from the first time they pulled that stunt until they return and act like Representatives.
Additionally Texas should enact a law wherein if they do that again they are automatically barred from holding any and all other offices in Federal, State, County, or City goverments for the state of Texas.
If I were you I'd be more focused on your Representatives that have twice now left so that the Texas Legislature is wasting taxpayers money for being in session without a Quorum. Sucks to be in a position that you can't win on a vote. Best they can do is throw a CHILDISH temper tantrum to stop ALL other Texans who elected the Majority from being dutifully represented as they should be. Again IMHO they should be censored and forfeit their salaries from the first time they pulled that stunt until they return and act like Representatives.
Additionally Texas should enact a law wherein if they do that again they are automatically barred from holding any and all other offices in Federal, State, County, or City goverments for the state of Texas.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
MSgt Dale Johnson - Let's talk to some of those that feel it will have an adverse effect, huh?
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God help you if you are deployed overseas. Our votes usually arrive late and are not counted and these laws make the matters worse.
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Since MSgt Dave Hoffman has blocked me and is not open for an open dialogue, I will ask him here;
Is there some evidence of widespread cheating in Harris County?
Is there some evidence of widespread cheating in Harris County?
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