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Groups Sue to Extend Early Voting After Harris County Shuts Polls for Winter Storm

Both runoff candidates urge added hours this week to offset the two lost days.

Overview

  • Harris County closed all early voting centers on Sunday and Monday because of hazardous winter weather.
  • Houston Justice and Pure Justice filed an emergency lawsuit seeking court-ordered early voting on Wednesday and Thursday.
  • The plaintiffs cite the Texas Election Code and the Help America Vote Act to argue for restoring voting time lost to the storm.
  • County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said the closures prioritized safety in coordination with emergency management officials.
  • Roughly 11,000 ballots had been cast through Saturday in a district with about 400,000 registered voters, and Election Day remains Jan. 31.