General Discussion

napi21

(45,806 posts) Fri Apr 17, 2020, 09:42 AM Apr 2020

Texas judge will issue order that could greatly expand mail-in voting

After conducting a video conference hearing in a lawsuit filed by state Democrats and civic organizations, Judge Tim Sulak told the attorneys he will issue a temporary injunction allowing all voters who risk exposure to the coronavirus if they vote in person to ask for a mail-in ballot under a portion of the Texas election code allowing absentee ballots for voters who cite a disability. His ruling, which is almost certain to be appealed by the state, could greatly expand the number of voters casting ballots by mail in the upcoming July primary runoff elections.

(snip)Just as the hearing was wrapping up, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made public an “informal letter of advice” that further teed up what is expected to be a drawn-out court battle over expanding voting by mail ahead of the runoffs and the November election.
Paxton stated that an individual’s fear of contracting the virus was not enough to meet the definition of disability to qualify for a mail ballot, and that those who advise voters to apply for a mail ballot based on that fear could be criminally prosecuted.

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/15/texas-judge-will-issue-order-could-greatly-expand-mail-voting/?link_id=7&can_id=b2511127fe32bafac43ef90f8341ece9&source=email-morning-digest-texas-court-to-order-easing-of-mail-voting-restrictions-as-gop-fights-to-block-it&email_referrer=email_778748&email_subject=morning-digest-judge-allows-all-texans-to-vote-absentee-by-mail-as-gop-threatens-criminal-penalties

Finally, a WIN in Texas! I hope this order sticks through all the appeals to come. Maybe it will prompt other States to join in on authorizing mail-in voting for November!!!