El Paso officials ask residents to stay home for two weeks as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge
"Please continue to exercise your right to vote," said El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, who announced a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Full Story
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![A sanitizing station is set up at the entrance of the emergency room at the El Paso Children's Hospital in El Paso on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune -
Order allowing Texas counties to have multiple mail-in ballot drop off sites is upheld, but appeal halts openings
The state is continuing to fight a Travis County district court's ruling that overrode Gov. Greg Abbott's order limiting counties to one absentee ballot drop-off location. Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd. is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county. The drop-off location photographed here on Oct. 2, 2020, will be open until Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ massive early voting numbers have persisted, leading to predictions of overall turnout unseen in years
Experts are predicting that as many as 12 million people could vote in Texas this year. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso on the first day of early voting in Texas on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott didn't require masks at polling places. It's made some voters uncomfortable.
Polling locations are one of Abbott’s 11 exemptions to his statewide mask mandate that went into effect July 3. Abbott said at the time that the exemption is meant to prevent people from being turned away at the polls just because they don’t have a mask, though he has also recommended that people wear them. Full Story
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![Harris County residents waiting in line at the Bayland Community Center during the first day of early voting in Houston on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Families of some special education students in Texas may be eligible for $1,500 in aid to offset pandemic challenges
The state program will help families pay for services like tutoring, therapy and digital resources. It is not a replacement for services students get through their school as part of their individualized education plan. Full Story
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![Students sit at socially distance intervals in the lunch room at Jacob’s Well Elementary School in Wimberley on Sept 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott spends millions to help down-ballot Republicans in Texas
In what it is calling a "mid-seven-figure" effort, the governor's political campaign is working to save the Republican majority in the state House and make voters aware of judicial races. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces his plan to reopen the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool/Austin American-Statesman -
Two key Texas counties — Democratic stronghold Harris and traditionally red Denton — are setting early voting records
As of Friday, 27% of registered voters in Denton County had cast their ballots in the 2020 election — surpassing the county’s 2016 turnout of 18% on the fourth day. Full Story
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![A line outside a polling location during the first day of early voting in Houston on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Running government like a business — except for elections
You've heard that refrain — the one about running the government like a business — from dozens of candidates over the years. In the case of voting, businesses might be a good place for government officials to pick up some pointers. Full Story
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![Herb Kelly and his wife Linda Simien Kelly, who is an artist in Houston, wait in line at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center on W. Gray Street during the first day of early voting in Houston on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas quickly appeals Travis County judge's ruling that would allow multiple absentee ballot drop-off sites to reopen
A federal appeals court recently upheld Gov. Greg Abbott's order limiting mail-in ballot delivery locations. The Travis County lawsuit focuses on potential state law violations. Full Story
![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd. is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county. The drop-off location photographed here on Oct. 2, 2020, will be open until Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott picks Rebeca Huddle for Texas Supreme Court vacancy
Abbott, a former Texas Supreme Court justice himself, picked Huddle to serve on the all-Republican high court. Full Story
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![Rebeca Huddle.]()
Credit: via Baker Botts -
Harris County tried to make voting easier during the pandemic. Texas Republicans fought every step of the way.
In a bitterly contested election overlaid with the fears and risks of an uncontrolled pandemic, Harris County has become a case study in raw politics and partisan efforts to manipulate voter turnout. Full Story
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![A man readjusts his mask after showing his face to match his ID at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center on W. Gray Street during the first day of early voting in Houston on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas counties temporarily blocked from offering multiple mail-in ballot drop-off locations
An order from a federal appeals court Saturday set up another potential legal showdown over voting in Texas as mail-in ballots are already being collected and just days before early voting begins. Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county. The drop-off location photographed here on Oct. 2, 2020, will be open until Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Special election runoff between Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer set for Dec. 19
Springer, a state representative, faces Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year after refusing to shutter her business due to pandemic restrictions, for the seat of state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper. Full Story
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![Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
State GOP Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller join anti-Greg Abbott protest outside Governor's Mansion
The protest of Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus policies came on the weekend before early voting begins in the state. Full Story
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![Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West speaks to a crowd gathered at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 to protest business closures and mask mandates which they call "King Abbott’s Royal Decrees."]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
As fears of election-related unrest rise, here's what you need to know about poll watchers in Texas
Political parties are enlisting a record number of poll watchers in Texas and across the country for a highly charged election season. Full Story
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![Poll workers Al Johnston and Sue Denson run through the check in process at training lab at the Collin County Elections Department on June 23. Plexiglass screens to separate employees from voters are one of several protective measures added by Collin County to prevent the spread of COVID-19.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's ratings fell during the pandemic, UT/TT Poll finds
As the pandemic has dragged on in Texas, the distance between Abbott's approval and disapproval ratings from voters has narrowed, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on Texas hospital bed capacity and the state's strategy for fighting COVID-19 during a press conference at Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin in June.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool via Austin American-Statesman -
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas counties can allow bars to reopen. Only 1 of the state's 10 biggest counties has said it will.
While Denton County is moving forward, Dallas and Harris counties officials almost immediately declined the offer to allow bars to reopen. Many others are taking a wait-and-see approach. Full Story
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![The San Jac Saloon attracts customers with drink specials and live music on May 22, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says he’s “not really happy” with the way Ken Paxton has run the Texas attorney general’s office
Cornyn said the allegations against Paxton “need to be investigated.” Full Story
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![US Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and US Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speak to media following Texas Public Policy Foundation's annual policy orientation in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
How Texas has made it easier and harder for people to vote in the pandemic
Voting rights groups say last-minute changes to the voting process in Texas have created confusion. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says he has expanded accessibility by allowing voters to submit mail-in ballots in person before Election Day. Full Story
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![People drop off their mail-in ballots at the Bexar County Elections Department in San Antonio on Oct. 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says bars can reopen next week at 50% capacity if counties opt in
“It is time to open them up,” Abbott said in a Facebook video announcing the move. “If we continue to contain COVID, then these openings, just like other businesses, should be able to expand in the near future.” Full Story
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![A bartender waits for customers at Buck Wild on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin as bars reopen on May 22, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune