Harris County early voting period is nearing its end, but not without a Halloween treat, extending voting hours today to afford residents additional time before November 5 general election. According to ABC13, polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. this Halloween, with standard hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. resuming for the last day of early voting tomorrow.
In a push to enhance voter turnout before the final day on Friday, METRO has stepped in to provide Harris County voters a free round-trip ride to the polls, provided they show the driver their voter I.D. So far, over 34% of the 2.7 million registered voters in the county have cast their vote. Harris County Clerk, Teneshia Hudspeth, remains optimistic, having predicted a turnout that could exceed 70%, despite only having two days left in the early voting window. With the Texas Secretary of State having monitors in place, Hudspeth told ABC13, "I'm absolutely not concerned about the Secretary of State sending monitors."
Harris County Clerk Tenshia Hudspeth also provided answers to voters' queries on the Houston Elections show, addressing concerns and providing insights into the voting process. Hudspeth explained to a resident that the reason Republican candidates were listed above Democrats stems from the Texas Election Code, which mandates that "the party that has the majority in the [most recent] governor's race is the party that's listed first on the ballot as candidates," Hudspeth said during the interview with Houston Public Media. Furthermore, in addressing mail-in ballots, residents were assured that ballots would still be accepted as long as they're postmarked by Election Day.
Assistance at the polls is readily available for those who need it. Alongside offering ballots in multiple languages, there’s provision for ADA-compliant audio equipment and poll workers ready to aid voters with the process. "If you want to bring someone of your choosing, as long as it's not your employer or a representative of a union or employer, then those individuals can come in [to] translate, support and help you," Hudspeth explained in her interview with Houston Public Media. For more detailed information on the voting process, locations, and times, Harris County residents are encouraged to visit harrisvotes.com.
