Texas Supreme Court approves removal of Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office.
The Harris County Elections Administrators’ Office Loses Oversight of November Election
The upcoming November election in Harris County, Texas, will no longer be overseen by the Harris County Elections Administrators’ office. This decision came after the Texas Supreme Court denied a request to block a new law that effectively eliminates the position. As a result, the duties of the election administrator will be transferred to the Harris County Clerk and Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector.
The ruling, which takes effect on September 1, is based on Senate Bill 1750 passed by Republican lawmakers in May. This bill abolishes the position of county election administrator in counties with a population of over 3.5 million and transfers election duties to the county clerk and tax assessor-collector.
Background and Controversy
The need for this legislation arose from alleged “serious election irregularities” during the 2022 Harris County elections. Advocates argue that appointed elections administrators mismanaged the elections, leading to issues such as uncounted ballots and paper ballot shortages.
Republican lawmakers pointed to incidents where thousands of ballots were not included in the final results and were later “found” by the elections administrator. These incidents raised concerns about the integrity of the election process.
In response to the new law, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee filed a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. He argued that the law specifically targets Harris County and violates the Texas Constitution, which prohibits laws that apply to only one county.
Legal Battle and Disappointment
Despite an initial victory for Harris County with a temporary injunction granted by a district judge, the Attorney General of Texas appealed the decision to the Texas Supreme Court. The court denied Harris County’s request for emergency relief, allowing the law to go into effect.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, stating that it allows the legislature to illegally target Harris County. He criticized Republican legislators for undermining local elections and failing to provide assistance or additional funding for the transition.
The ruling has raised concerns about the impact on the upcoming November election and the challenges faced by those responsible for running it.
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