Stace is already on this, but I’d like to echo the following press release from Dot Nelson-Turnier, the Democratic candidate in HD150.
Early voting locations determined by the Harris County Elections’ Administrator, Beverly Kaufman and the Harris County Commissioners should provide equal access to all voters.
At least that is the point that Dot Nelson-Turnier, candidate for State Representative in District 150 hopes to make in Commissioners’ Court September 12.
“In my District there is easy access to two early voting locations in the middle to upper middle class mostly white neighborhoods, while there are none located in the primarily non-white neighborhoods.”
Almost 30% of the actual voters in District 150 take advantage of absentee ballot and early voting options in a district where the turnout is approximately 30% in non presidential years.
District 150’s area is approximately 150 square miles. Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road bisect the district. The two early voting locations are both located west of the interstate and toll road providing no early voting locations to the east. Ms. Turnier contends that voters who live east of the highways would have to travel west off the highway in order to vote and then backtrack to get home. With the price of gas and the long commute from Houston, she fears this will deter voters from using the convenience of early voting, and bring the total voting numbers down.
“We want everyone be able to participate equally in this and all of our elections, and in no way deter them from voting.
Everyone wants people to vote. I do. I am sure my opponent does. I know that Elections’ Administration likes to keep voting locations in the same place to avoid confusion, but when populations shift and move, voting locations need to change with them.”
With five weeks left until early voting, there should be ample time to rectify this situation.
Here’s a map of early voting locations (PDF) for Harris County. Now compare it to this map of District 150 (PDF). Note how locations 32 and 33 are in HD150, whereas the entire swath of the district that’s east of 45 has none. You might live close enough to the Humble location (#19) if you’re in the southeast part of the district, but most likely you’re several miles away from any early voting site, and for sure you have to cross a highway to get to it. That’s the point Dot is making, and it’s one that really should be addressed. (There should also be a location farther out on 290, too, but I’ll leave that for that district’s rep to worry about.)