Civil Rights Groups React to Harris County Vote-by-Mail Court Ruling
HOUSTON – A Harris County District court today rejected the Texas Attorney General’s injunction request, therefore allowing Harris County to send mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters along with a pamphlet explaining who is eligible to vote by mail.
The ACLU of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project represented the League of Women Voters Texas in filing an amicus brief supporting the Harris County Clerk’s decision.
“As the Court recognized, the Harris County Clerk is acting in his authority by making it easier for people to exercise their right to vote, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Anjali Salvador, staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas. “Especially in these difficult times, the state should not be trying to stop counties from educating and empowering voters.”
“This is a victory for Harris County voters!” said Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters Texas. “During this pandemic, voters must be able to assess their own health circumstances and be able to choose whether to vote in person or by mail.”
“I think a lot of Texans are wondering why the state attorney general is wasting taxpayer money on a bogus case whose sole goal is to make it harder to vote,” said Joaquin Gonzalez, attorney at Texas Civil Rights Project.
The ruling is available here: https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/texas_v._hollins_injunction_ruling.pdf
The amicus brief is available here: https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/2020-09-08_texas_v._hollins_amicus_brief_redacted.pdf
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