Houston, TX — After several polling locations across the third largest county in the nation opened late this Election Day, Judge Dawn Rogers has signed off on an order to extend voting until 8 pm in Harris County following a lawsuit from Texas Organizing Project. This will affect 782 voting locations and ensure our communities have the right to cast their ballots and protect their freedoms.
Throughout the day, voters have experienced delays and barriers as they’ve attempted to exercise their right to vote in this critical election, from machines not working until 9:23 am when the polls opened at 7 am, to locations running out of paper for ballots, and nearly half of the voting machines going down at NRG Arena.
We want to remind voters that if they’re in line when the polls close at 8 pm in Harris County, they should stay in line because they have a right to vote! We encourage anyone experiencing problems at the polls to call the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline–our partners are here to make sure our right to vote is protected.
In closing, Texas Freedom Network President & Executive Director Val Benavidez (she/hers) shares the following statement:
“Diabolical bills like SB1 were created to silence our communities, but despite the coordinated efforts to disempower Texas voters, we’ve seen today that people know their freedoms are at stake this election. Texans are ready to vote for change–as evidenced by the incredibly long lines seen in Houston at 7 am this morning. Texans also know that every vote counts and their votes matter. And in Harris County, they now have until 8 pm to use their voting power. When we expand access to the ballot box, we uplift the voices of our communities. Our vital work to protect voting rights will never be stopped.”
###
The Texas Freedom Network (tfn.org) is a grassroots organization of religious and community leaders and young Texans building an informed and effective movement for equality and social justice.
