Five people threw their hats in the ring for a single council seat in the South Texas city. That level of interest kicked off an unorthodox — but not unprecedented — series of events.
Natalia Contreras
Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. She has covered a range of topics as a community journalist including local government, public safety, immigration and social issues. Natalia previously reported for the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on impacts of government policies on communities of color. Natalia previously worked at the Indianapolis Star, where she helped launch the first Spanish-language newsletter, and at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in Mexico and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is based in Corpus Christi.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Can these 5 bills to expand voting access in Texas win bipartisan support in the Legislature?
Proposals to allow online registration and broaden photo ID options may have a chance to advance, supporters say.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Republicans want voters to provide proof of citizenship. Arizona’s law holds lessons.
A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Bill aimed at increasing transparency could sow chaos for election officials, experts say
Under state Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s bill, some individuals could submit requests for explanations of ‘election irregularities’ and potentially bring them to the Texas Secretary of State.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas ballot secrecy issue draws attention in Legislature, courts
One bill has been filed so far, while a pair of lawsuits focus attention on the issue.
Posted in
Politics
Brazos County election officials feel the strain of unrelenting scrutiny from right-wing skeptics
Voting went well in the presidential election, but Trudy Hancock and her staff are still fielding questions. And the answers don’t seem to matter.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
Following a year of partisan fights, Election Day runs smoothly across Texas
A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
When will Texas election results come in? Here’s how the process unfolds.
By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
As Texas refuses online voter registration, paper applications get lost
Some people who filled out forms find out too late that they never made it onto the rolls. State lawmakers have resisted efforts to expand online options.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
Election clerk allegedly assaulted during early voting in San Antonio
The suspect was arrested for assaulting the elderly. The Bexar County sheriff said “nothing” is worth going to jail for.
