Chuck LindellView CommentsThe Texas Supreme Court drew alarmed attention Friday after directing Harris County to respond to a petition that seeks to invalidate more than 117,000 votes cast in drive-thru lanes.The court’s interest came as an unwelcome surprise to voting advocates and Harris County officials who were banking on a quick dismissal of the petition, filed by two GOP candidates and a Republican member of the Texas House.After all, only one week earlier the same court had that sought to block drive-thru voting — available only in the growing Democratic bastion of Harris County — as...…Chuck LindellView CommentsThe Texas Supreme Court drew alarmed attention Friday after directing Harris County to respond to a petition that seeks to invalidate more than 117,000 votes cast in drive-thru lanes.The court’s interest came as an unwelcome surprise to voting advocates and Harris County officials who were banking on a quick dismissal of the petition, filed by two GOP candidates and a Republican member of the Texas House.After all, only one week earlier the same court had that sought to block drive-thru voting — available only in the growing Democratic bastion of Harris County — as...WW…

 A federal appeals court struck down a Texas abortion law that bans the most common type of second-trimester abortion unless doctors first employ an added procedure to ensure fetal demise.In a 2-1 ruling Tuesday evening, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the 2017 law places an impermissible burden on women by forcing them to "endure a medically unnecessary and invasive additional procedure" against their doctors’ advice."The Act confers no medical benefit for women patients while forcing them to undergo unnecessary, painful, invasive, and even experimental procedures," said...… A federal appeals court struck down a Texas abortion law that bans the most common type of second-trimester abortion unless doctors first employ an added procedure to ensure fetal demise.In a 2-1 ruling Tuesday evening, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the 2017 law places an impermissible burden on women by forcing them to "endure a medically unnecessary and invasive additional procedure" against their doctors’ advice."The Act confers no medical benefit for women patients while forcing them to undergo unnecessary, painful, invasive, and even experimental procedures," said...WW…

 In a ruling issued late Monday night, a federal appeals court upheld Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that limited counties to one mail-in ballot drop-off location.A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, all appointed by President Donald Trump, rejected arguments from civil and voting rights groups that claimed Abbott’s order suppressed voting rights by making it harder to cast a ballot, particularly for elderly and disabled voters who are the most likely to use mail-in balloting.In reality, the judges said, Abbott expanded voting options by suspending a state law that...… In a ruling issued late Monday night, a federal appeals court upheld Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that limited counties to one mail-in ballot drop-off location.A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, all appointed by President Donald Trump, rejected arguments from civil and voting rights groups that claimed Abbott’s order suppressed voting rights by making it harder to cast a ballot, particularly for elderly and disabled voters who are the most likely to use mail-in balloting.In reality, the judges said, Abbott expanded voting options by suspending a state law that...WW…

 A federal judge issued an order Friday night barring enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Oct. 1 proclamation that limited counties to one mail-in ballot drop-off location.U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said Abbott’s order placed an unacceptable burden on the voting rights of elderly and disabled Texans, who are most likely to request a mail-in ballot and to hand-deliver those ballots early to ensure that they are counted.These voters are also particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the judge said."By limiting ballot return centers to one per county, older and disabled voters living in...… A federal judge issued an order Friday night barring enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Oct. 1 proclamation that limited counties to one mail-in ballot drop-off location.U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said Abbott’s order placed an unacceptable burden on the voting rights of elderly and disabled Texans, who are most likely to request a mail-in ballot and to hand-deliver those ballots early to ensure that they are counted.These voters are also particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the judge said."By limiting ballot return centers to one per county, older and disabled voters living in...WW…

Tony Plohetski, , and Chuck LindellView CommentsTop aides of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes against the state’s top lawyer.In a one-page letter to the state agency’s director of human resources, obtained Saturday by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, seven executives in the upper tiers of the office said that they are seeking the investigation into Paxton “in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas.”The Thursday...…Tony Plohetski, , and Chuck LindellView CommentsTop aides of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes against the state’s top lawyer.In a one-page letter to the state agency’s director of human resources, obtained Saturday by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, seven executives in the upper tiers of the office said that they are seeking the investigation into Paxton “in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas.”The Thursday...WW…

 Top aides of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes against the state’s top lawyer.In a one-page letter to the state agency’s director of human resources, obtained Saturday by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, seven executives in the upper tiers of the office said that they are seeking the investigation into Paxton "in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas."The Thursday letter said that each "has knowledge of facts...… Top aides of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes against the state’s top lawyer.In a one-page letter to the state agency’s director of human resources, obtained Saturday by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, seven executives in the upper tiers of the office said that they are seeking the investigation into Paxton "in his official capacity as the current Attorney General of Texas."The Thursday letter said that each "has knowledge of facts...WW…

Chuck LindellView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott issued an order Thursday requiring counties to close multiple locations where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots.As an election security measure, counties will be limited to one dropoff site where poll watchers — designated by political parties and candidates — must be allowed to observe ballot deliveries by voters, Abbott said.The new order takes effect Oct. 2 and modifies Abbott’s July 27 order that acknowledged the pandemic’s danger by adding six days of early voting and waiving a state law that limits mail-in ballot dropoff to...…Chuck LindellView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott issued an order Thursday requiring counties to close multiple locations where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots.As an election security measure, counties will be limited to one dropoff site where poll watchers — designated by political parties and candidates — must be allowed to observe ballot deliveries by voters, Abbott said.The new order takes effect Oct. 2 and modifies Abbott’s July 27 order that acknowledged the pandemic’s danger by adding six days of early voting and waiving a state law that limits mail-in ballot dropoff to...WW…

 The Texas Supreme Court on Monday rejected two appeals that sought to resurrect the state Republican Party’s in-person political convention after it was canceled by Houston officials amid a growing coronavirus outbreak.GOP officials had hoped the all-Republican Supreme Court would allow the meeting to take place at the end of this week.Instead, the court’s 7-1 ruling said the party could not rely on state law or the Texas Constitution to enforce its contract with Houston or Houston First, which operates the city’s convention center."The Party argues it has constitutional rights to...… The Texas Supreme Court on Monday rejected two appeals that sought to resurrect the state Republican Party’s in-person political convention after it was canceled by Houston officials amid a growing coronavirus outbreak.GOP officials had hoped the all-Republican Supreme Court would allow the meeting to take place at the end of this week.Instead, the court’s 7-1 ruling said the party could not rely on state law or the Texas Constitution to enforce its contract with Houston or Houston First, which operates the city’s convention center."The Party argues it has constitutional rights to...WW…

 Rejecting arguments by state Democrats, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that a lack of immunity to the coronavirus does not entitle voters to a mail-in ballot under state law.Election law limits mail-in ballots to specific categories of voters, including those with a disability that prevents them from safely traveling to a polling place.Democrats have launched several legal fights arguing that the lack of immunity to COVID-19 prevents safe in-person voting, making every registered voter eligible to receive a ballot to be filled out at home and dropped in the mail.But the Supreme...… Rejecting arguments by state Democrats, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that a lack of immunity to the coronavirus does not entitle voters to a mail-in ballot under state law.Election law limits mail-in ballots to specific categories of voters, including those with a disability that prevents them from safely traveling to a polling place.Democrats have launched several legal fights arguing that the lack of immunity to COVID-19 prevents safe in-person voting, making every registered voter eligible to receive a ballot to be filled out at home and dropped in the mail.But the Supreme...WW…

 With Texas Republican leaders fighting efforts to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic, the state’s top election official has issued guidelines designed to improve the safety of polling places, voters and election workers.Voters were advised to bring their own pen to sign documents as well as hand sanitizer to disinfect after voting and interacting with poll workers or other voters.Secretary of State Ruth Hughs also suggested that voters consider wearing a face covering — but be prepared to remove it briefly if the election judge needs to confirm their identity — and maintain a...… With Texas Republican leaders fighting efforts to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic, the state’s top election official has issued guidelines designed to improve the safety of polling places, voters and election workers.Voters were advised to bring their own pen to sign documents as well as hand sanitizer to disinfect after voting and interacting with poll workers or other voters.Secretary of State Ruth Hughs also suggested that voters consider wearing a face covering — but be prepared to remove it briefly if the election judge needs to confirm their identity — and maintain a...WW…