Thread by @BobChoate54

What went wrong with @HarrisVotes Ballot By Mail program. A thread.

I reviewed the Ballot By Mail application of 10 of the 20 largest counties in Texas.
#17 Galveston
#14 Brazoria
#12 Montgomery
#9 Fort Bend
#6 Collin
#5 Travis
#4 Bexar
#3 Tarrant
#2 Dallas
#1 Harris

Counties #2 - #6 were selected for their closest size ranking to #1 Harris. The other four were selected as the largest adjacent counties that rank in the top 20.

Here is Harris County's Ballot by Mail application ⤵️

(2)
The Texas Secretary of State created a model application; this model was followed by the other 9 counties on my list. Here is the Ballot By Mail application for Tarrant County ⤵️

(3)
The main elements of the S.o.S.'s application:
1. Instructions for each section are clearly listed on Page 2. Harris' instructions are along the left side.
2. The required information is listed to be completed in mostly vertical order, which is less confusing...(con't)

(4)
...and/or intimidating than the style employed by @HarrisVotes
3. The form includes an address panel with a spot for postage; this saves the sender the trouble of having to search for the mailing address, not to mention supply your own envelope.
(con't)

(5)
4. In 8 of the other 9 examples, the addressee is the "Early Voting Clerk."
The addressee for Harris County, per the instructions, is ISABEL LONGORIA ☆ HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
Again, all of the Harris applications arrived in various envelopes.
(con't)

(6)
5. Six of the nine applications of the other counties had the COMPLETE ADDRESS on the address panel.
(con't)

(7)
6. The main area of confusion as reported, was the entry by the applicant of the ID number.
This photo shows the Harris County application (left), Tarrant County's (the form prescribed by the S.o.S.) on the right.

Note the key instruction omitted from Harris County's form.

(8).
7. The burning questions:
a) Why did Isabel Longoria decide to reinvent the wheel?

b) How much additional effort, confusion, and delay was caused by applications arriving in random envelopes, addressed to the EA, as opposed to a Mail Ballot Clerk or Department?
(con't)

(9)
In my opinion, the cause of the high number/percentage of rejections was a confusing form, a wound that was self inflicted by the Election Administrator’s office.

Signed,
Robert E. Choate
Chair, Precinct 0902
Presiding Judge RCN113