Voter Advocacy Groups Sue County Elections
October 7, 2020 - Bexar County
Bexar County Elections. Two voter advocacy groups, MOVE Texas and Texas Organizing Project have filed a lawsuit against the Bexar County Elections Department. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Chase Rogers - Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- MOVE Texas and Texas Organizing Project, filed a lawsuit against the Bexar County Elections Department
- The lawsuit claims that, as currently proposed, the county will have fewer polling locations than the last four Election Days
Two grassroots organizations, MOVE Texas and Texas Organizing Project, filed a lawsuit against the Bexar County Elections Department, citing a lack of polling locations and blockage of appointing new volunteer deputy registrars.
The lawsuit claims that, as currently proposed, the county will have fewer polling locations than the last four Election Days, with only 284 planned locations when previous elections saw more than 300 locations.
“These closures are not merely ill-advised for the safety and convenience of all voters, but they will also negatively impact voters of color and Spanish-language voters,” the lawsuit states.
“We’re expected to see record breaking numbers of Texans at the polls in the midst of a global pandemic, and Bexar County must be prepared to handle more voters than it ever has before while maintaining healthy voting practices,” wrote H. Drew Galloway, the Executive Director of MOVE Texas, in a press release. “Instead, Bexar County has decided to close polling locations - operating fewer locations than it did in 2012, 2014, 2016, or 2018.”
MOVE Texas Communications Director, Charlie Bonner, said the organization has closely watched the county, drawing sharp comparisons between Bexar County and other countries pushing for increased voter accessibility.
“During this pandemic, we've seen many counties put into place aggressive new policies to meet the need of this momentum like Harris County and Travis County,” Bonnor said. “Sadly, Bexar County has not been one of those counties working to meet voters where they are.”
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Included in the suit is correspondence between Bexar County Elections Administrator, Jacquelyn Callanen. She stated that the county is not in violation of the law and is planning to offer more locations than legally required.
The upcoming Nov. 3 election is expected to yield a record-breaking turnout nationwide and, due to a significant increase in registered voters, Bexar County will undoubtedly feel some of this growth.
Early voting will begin on Oct. 13. Election Day is slated for Nov. 3. For more information on polling locations and voter registration, visit Bexar County’s official elections page.
Chase Rogers is a freelance reporter and writer published in the Central and South Texas regions. He can be reached at chaserogersreporting@outlook.com