Tag Archives: Diane Trautman

County to seek new voting machines

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

About time. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously approved County Clerk Diane Trautman’s plan to seek vendor proposals for new voting machines. The clerk’s office plans to issue a request for proposal for a new voting system this month. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on County to seek new voting machines

People liked the voting centers

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They’re great, so of course they do. Half of Harris County voters who turned out Nov. 5 cast ballots outside of their home polling places, taking advantage of a new program that lets citizens vote at any Election Day polling … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Early voting for the 2019 runoffs begins tomorrow

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Early Voting for the December 14 Joint Runoff Election begins Wednesday, November 27, halts for Thanksgiving break, and resumes December 2-10. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sunday, December 8, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The County Clerk’s plan for the runoff

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Things should be back to normal, and those of us who have to know the final results before we go to bed will get a little more sleep. Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman on Tuesday said poll workers will drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

So what happened with the election returns?

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The County Clerk puts the blame on the Secretary of State. Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman said a last-minute directive from the secretary of state caused significant delays in reporting election results on Tuesday evening. Trautman said an Oct. 23 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2019 election results: Houston and Metro

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunately, we have to start with this: Results of Tuesday’s election could take until 2 a.m. Wednesday after the Texas Secretary of State issued a new regulation that upended plans by the Harris County Clerk’s Office to speed vote counting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Today is Election Day

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Election Day is November 5th and thanks to countywide voting, more than 2.3 million eligible voters in Harris County may cast their ballots at the voting center of their choice. A total of 757 polling locations throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

A wrapup for early voting

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the end of early voting. Early voting ended Friday with a late surge in turnout among Harris County voters, surpassing voter participation in some prior mayoral election years but falling short of totals seen during … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Voting centers everywhere

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In Dallas: Starting in November, problems like Mr. Voter’s, at least in Dallas County, will be a thing of the past. Tuesday afternoon, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office officially gave the county permission to participate in the countywide voting … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boosting student turnout at UT

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Cool story. Between 2013 and 2016, Texas eliminated more than 400 polling locations, the largest drop in any state during that time. In 2013, after years of litigation, it implemented a strict voter ID law. The law, which lists seven … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Boosting student turnout at UT

Early voting locations coming to UH and TSU

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Students at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University will be able to cast ballots on campus in this November’s general election, the Harris County Clerk’s office announced Monday. For the first time, the two schools will host … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Early voting locations coming to UH and TSU

Harris County gets official approval for voting centers

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Full steam ahead. Harris County on Monday received permission to use voting centers, which enable voters to cast ballots at any location they choose, in high-turnout elections, County Clerk Diane Trautman announced. Under this system, voters are not required to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Harris County gets official approval for voting centers

The main concern about voting centers

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This Trib story, which is about the implementation of voting centers in multiple counties across Texas for the 2020 election, delves into one of the main concern about them: Voting centers can change from one election to the next, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Harris County goes shopping for new voting machines

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time. Harris County formally has begun searching for a new voting machine model with the aim of debuting the devices in a 2021 election, County Clerk Diane Trautman announced Tuesday. Speaking at the International Association of Government Officials trade … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A preview of the joint primary

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Like Campos and John Coby, I recently had the opportunity to visit the Harris County Clerk and get a preview of the proposed joint primary. Coby describes it in some detail, with pictures, so I won’t duplicate his effort. Basically, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Joint primaries

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another potential change to how we vote is in the works. Harris County primary voters could see a big change at the polls in 2020 if local party leaders agree on a new proposal. Under the current system, voters go … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moving ahead with voting centers

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The first time was a success, so we’re going to keep using them. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted unanimously to apply for state approval to expand the use of countywide polling places to general elections. County Clerk Diane … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Moving ahead with voting centers

So what’s happening with SB9, the vote suppression bill?

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The big House committee hearing was on Wednesday. Filed in early March, Senate Bill 9 by Republican state Sen. Bryan Hughes emerged as a priority for Senate leadership and first appeared to seize on bipartisan support for modernizing outdated voting … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

First test drive of Harris County voting centers

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Overall I thought things went well for the Saturday election – final results were all in by 9 PM or so – but Campos observed a few issues. Commentary is all for the voting centers on Election Day. If my … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on First test drive of Harris County voting centers

Today is May Election Day

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Kicks Off First Election With Countywide Polling Place Program Houston, TX– Saturday, May 4, 2019, is Election Day for approximately 708,000 eligible voters in Harris County.  This election is the first since being approved for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Today is May Election Day

Meet the new marriage license

Posted on April 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Time for a change. A sketched portrait of a bride and groom has been nixed from Harris County-issued marriage licenses to make the records more inclusive to “all unions, backgrounds and faiths,” according to clerk officials. The ornate image of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Early voting for the May elections has begun

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Early Voting for the May 4, 2019 Joint Election starts Monday, April 22 and ends on Tuesday, April 30. During that period, Harris County voters may vote at any of the 25 Early Voting locations designated throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Harris County settles ADA voting rights lawsuit

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Chalk up another accomplishment for our new county overlords. The U.S. Department of Justice will monitor Harris County elections, at county expense, for up to four years under the settlement of a federal lawsuit over inadequate access to polling places … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harris County settles ADA voting rights lawsuit

Vote centers approved for Harris County

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Today, Texas Secretary of State David Whitley approved Harris County as one of six Texas counties with a population of more than 100,000 to participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program. With over 2 million registered voters, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Vote centers approved for Harris County

Vote centers advance

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The other big story from Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting. Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman’s plan to shift to countywide voting centers inched forward this week when Commissioners Court unanimously agreed to file an application with the secretary of state asking … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Vote centers advance

Today is Election Day in HD145

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Today is Election Day for approximately 71,000 registered voters in Texas State Representative District 145. All polling locations for the Special Election to Fill a Vacancy will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. District 145 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Early voting begins Monday for HD145 special election

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: First week Early Voting hours for the January 29, 2019 Special Election To Fill A Vacancy For State Representative District 145 will now be extended from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Extended voting hours will now give … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Now we talk about vote centers

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good. New Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman on Tuesday [proposed] to Commissioners Court a non-precinct based countywide polling system, where voters can cast ballots at the locations most convenient to them. “Life gets in the way; you’ve got to pick … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Precinct analysis: The county candidates

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s just dive right in and have a look at the countywide candidates, shall we? Dist Emmett Hidalgo Gatlin Under Emmett% Hidalgo% Gatlin% ============================================================== CD02 150,630 103,625 5,842 5,005 57.91% 39.84% 2.25% CD07 135,016 100,412 4,967 4,819 56.16% 41.77% 2.07% … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: The county candidates

Trying again with online voter registration

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Fingers crossed. Texas voter registration might be heading to the internet if any of several bills filed for the upcoming legislative session finds its way to the governor’s desk. Five bills, all filed by Democratic legislators, would require the state … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Use that mandate in Harris County

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Jay Aiyer pens an agenda for Harris County and its Democratic government. First and foremost, flood mitigation has to be at the top of any list. Harris County has taken good initial steps to improve flood control infrastructure, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Trautman talks new voting machines

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As is usually the case, finding the funding will be the key. The newly elected Harris County clerk plans to phase out the county’s eSlate voting machines, which have occasionally caused problems for voters. Diane Trautman, who beat the incumbent … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Initial reactions: Harris County

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s start with the obvious. Harris County Democrats rode a surge in voter turnout to a decisive victory on Tuesday, unseating several countywide Republican officials, including longtime County Judge Ed Emmett, and sweeping all 59 judicial races. Emmett, who courted … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Endorsement watch: One out of three will have to do

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

They endorsed Ed Emmett, which comes as a surprise to no one. It is with a twinge of regret that we endorse Ed Emmett for re-election as county judge. We’d rather be endorsing the pragmatic Republican for governor. A man … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments