Thread by @ErinForYall

Let’s talk for a second about dropping off mail in ballots here in Hays County.

First off, the rule/practice as it is today: To vote absentee, you have two choices. Drop your ballot in the mail OR bring it to the Hays County Government Center in San Marcos & present an ID. 1/x

Sent your ballot in and want to make sure it’s received? Check here, first link at the top: hayscountytx.com/departments/el…

Hays County has an election administrator (instead of clerk running election), which gave them less legal flexibility to attempt multiple drop off locations. 2/x

So Hays County was *not* impacted the Gov’s most recent order. Instead I was hoping that he’d clarify that we *could* have more drop-off locations. County commissioners, both R and D, were open to it, but our election administrator was advised against by SOS. 3/x

Here’s why there was bipartisan openness to it (besides it being the right thing to do). San Marcos is in the southeast corner of the county, and it’s the bluest community in Hays. It’s a solid 45 minute drive from Dripping Springs, a red community w/ lots of retirees. 4/x

Wimberley, an even redder community with an even bigger proportion of retirees, is 25 minutes from San Marcos.

And y’all, when I say minutes, I mean miles. These are twisty, narrow high speed roads. They are not easy driving in bad weather or if you’re a less skilled driver. 5/x

Kyle, a bluer and younger city, 15 minutes from the Government Center. Buda, also younger (though not as young as Kyle) and bluer, 25 minutes. Those communities would be helped by more drop off locations, especially the semi-rural folks who live in the outskirts. 6/x

But the lion’s share of the advantage if we let folks drop off mail-in ballots at early voting locations are red Dripping Springs and red Wimberley.

I don’t know what my point is other than to throw up my hands in utter confusion about the barriers being placed in the way. 7/x

The Republican attack on absentee voting is fundamentally wrong-headed on so many fronts, and right here, in my swing district, they’re cutting off their nose to spite their face.

The right thing to do is give voters access, and I know Texans will show at the polls *anyways* 8/x

Making voting as safe as possible for high risk Texans should be a bipartisan priority, but here we are.

If you’re this afraid of people voting, you’re in the wrong business.

I look forward to bringing legislation to simplify absentee voting for all Texans. 9/9

Whoops, one more tweet!

If you qualify, you can apply for an absentee ballot here: sos.texas.gov/elections/vote…

Application must be *received* by your county elections office by October 23. 10/10