Wearing T-shirts, buttons or hats supporting political candidates at the polls is illegal. But in the pandemic era, voters are now being reminded that the electioneering rules also apply to face masks.
Stories by Texas Tribune fellows
The Texas Tribune welcomes a group of student fellows into our newsroom each spring, summer and fall. Here is a sampling of their work. Learn more about the fellowship program here.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
A week before the election, Texas National Guard prepares to deploy troops to cities
A spokesperson for the Guard said the deployment is not related to the election and troops would not be stationed at polling places. Mayors in two cities say they weren’t advised of the deployment.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
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.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
For many Texas kids, trick-or-treating is canceled because of the pandemic. These parents have other plans.
At least two counties – Hidalgo and El Paso – have banned door-to-door trick-or-treating. Others are discouraging participation while promoting safer alternatives such as carving pumpkins or having a candy hunt at home.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas is on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge. Is the state better prepared to handle it?
Experts say Texas is more prepared to handle another wave. But they fear that if the state fails to control the outbreak, it could quickly spiral out of control.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Health officials predict most Texans won’t have access to COVID-19 vaccine until July at the earliest
Under the state’s vaccine distribution plan, vulnerable people, including health care workers, older people and people with underlying medical conditions, would likely be the first to get the vaccine in the early months that it’s available.
Posted in
Demographics
The census doesn’t count Arab Americans. That leaves some Texans feeling invisible.
The census does not include an option for people to identify as Middle Eastern or North African Americans. That leaves Arab Texans to identify as white or “other” on the all-important national count.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott boosts COVID-19 resources in Amarillo, Lubbock, where hospitalizations are rising
Abbott said Friday that the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Division of Emergency Management sent surge resources to the Panhandle and South Plains areas.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Eight Texas school systems will get rapid coronavirus tests with new pilot program
Gov. Greg Abbott, with the Texas Education Agency and Texas Division of Emergency Management, announced the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program on Wednesday.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
High turnout, sporadic problems reported at Texas polling places as early voting begins
Voters in Harris County shattered the record for in-person ballots cast on the first day of early voting, with more than 128,000 people voting, according to the county elections office.
