Thread by @toJamesConnor

12 helpful facts in the Texas Harris County Drive-through voting case. #HarrisVotes

1. In June, to protect voters' health during a pandemic, the Texas Secretary of State approved drive-through voting in the 2020 election.

2. In July, drive-through voting was successfully piloted in the Harris Country primary run-off election.

3. In August, Harris County (the most populated county in Texas) approved funding to offer drive-thru voting in the General Election after the Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the list of early voting locations, which included drive-through locations.

4. Harris county election education campaigns invited voters to safely and securely cast their vote through 10 drive-through locations.

5. On October 12th, an appeals court in Houston dismissed the Republican petition against drive-through voting within a day, noting the lawsuit was filed too late on the eve of early voting.

6. Early voting began in Texas on October 13th. Over 127,000 Texans have cast their vote through these drive-in locations.

7. At the drive-in locations, lines of cars are guided into covered tents where poll workers check voters' photo identification and registration status. Voters use the exact same voting equipment that is used in traditional polling places—only they are sitting in their cars.

8. Harris County's drive-through locations are separate polling places—available to all voters—and are distinct from curbside voting which is limited to voters with disabilities.

9. On October 22nd, the Texas Supreme Court rejected a Republican party petition challenging Harris County’s drive-through voting.

10. On October 28th, not accepting that decision, Republican plaintiffs filled another a new petition to the Texas Supreme Court.

11. As the Texas Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of Texas Election Code, involvement of the Federal court at this time—while a petition involving drive-through voting is before the Texas Supreme Court—is an improper invitation.

12. Election procedures should not be changed during an election. Voters who cast their ballot drive-through locations have a legally protectable interest in ensuring their ballots will be counted.

#CountEveryVote #HarrisVotes

PS. On Sunday, Nov. 1st the Texas Supreme Court rejected the new Republican petition without further comment. Texas law is firmly against throwing out votes from these drive-through polling locations.

On Monday, Nov 2nd a conservative federal judge will hear another Republican petition to throw out the votes of citizens who did nothing other than rely on the instructions of Harris County for how to vote.

It's unlikely that a federal judge would take it on themselves to reinterpret Texas law for the state of Texas.

Expect these votes—safely and securely made on the same voting equipment used at other polling places—to stand.

#HarrisVotes #CountEveryVote