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October 22, 2023
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Preliminary findings from an audit of Harris County’s November 2022 election shows “multiple failures,” according to Secretary of State Jane Nelson.
Harris County, the largest county in the state, was one of four counties chosen at random to be audited by the secretary of state’s office under a new state law passed in 2021.
“Harris County clearly had multiple failures conducting the election and violated election law for estimating needed ballot paper. Mistakes like these led to a poorly executed election which left many Harris County residents frustrated and may have prevented them from voting.” said Nelson. “It is important to talk about these issues now in order to address them before the 2024 election cycle.”
According the SOS, the preliminary report reveals problems with voter registration data, failure to provide necessary supplies to polling places, equipment issues, and incomplete paperwork. At least 38 polling locations had no voter check-ins for an hour or more.
The report found the following major issues with the election:
- Harris County’s voter registration system included more than 9,000 more voters than were reported to the statewide voter registration system.
- Almost 3,600 mail ballots were sent to voters but not reported to the state.
- The method for determining distribution for ballot paper did not comply with state law and led to a disruption in the voting process and inadequate supplies at some polling locations.
- Harris County failed to adequately train election judges and clerks resulting in incomplete paperwork and problems with voting system equipment.
Since then, the legislature has passed legislation eliminating the county’s Elections Administrator and putting the responsibility back in the hands of the county clerk and tax assessor-collector.
Featured
Since the end of the regular session earlier this year, talks about efforts to remove and replace House Speaker Dade Phelan have grown.
Those conversations have intensified following the failed impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, which was led by Phelan.
And when the U.S. House of Representatives removed Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position earlier this month, the discussion hit an all-time high.
State
House’s Limited School Choice Plan Draws Disapproval from Gov. Abbott
Abbott has called for “legislation providing education savings accounts for all Texas schoolchildren.”
Whistleblower Says TxDOT is Still Pushing DEI on Employees
A whistleblower released screenshots revealing TxDOT is continuing to push “diversity, equity, and inclusion” practices on their employees.
Dade Phelan Underwater in Popularity Among His Own Voters
Phelan has drawn two challengers in the Republican primary.
Local
Corpus Christi Educators Confirm They Teach ‘1619 Project’ Principles
Two educators from Corpus Christi school districts confirmed with undercover investigators that they still teach the woke ideology regardless of state law.
Pro-life Groups Sue San Antonio Over Abortion Fund
The lawsuit accuses the fund of using taxpayer dollars to pay organizations to “aid or abet abortions in violation of Texas law.”
Houston Hotel Cancels Pro-Hamas Event Following Backlash
Gov. Greg Abbott, a supporter of Israel, publicly commended the hotel’s cancellation.
Federal
Three Texas Republicans Vote Against Jim Jordan for Speaker
U.S. Reps. Jake Ellzey, Tony Gonzales, and Kay Granger cast votes for other candidates.
Arkansas Cracks Down on Chinese-Owned Land While Texas Lags
Polling shows that 82 percent of Republican voters in Texas would support a ban on Chinese land purchases in the state.
Rep. Ronny Jackson: Bar Pro-Hamas Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Intelligence Briefings
Jackson said he is concerned that there are Congress members who support Hamas, are antisemitic, and attend classified briefings on the Israel-Hamas war.
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Quoting...
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory."
- George S. Patton
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