Good morning!

Readers have a lot of thoughts on “early voting,” as you’ll see in the responses to yesterday’s One Click Survey.

But first, here is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Adult Men Caught On Camera Leading Young Girls in Sexually Charged ‘Twerking’

• Texas Scorecard discovered shocking new video from the Austin City Limits festival that shows a group of adult men leading children—including little girls—in sexually charged “twerking” that many are calling obscene. Brandon Waltens has the details.
       
• The video, which was first published on TikTok, shows the Bonus Tracks stage at ACL, which hosted performances by drag queens as well as a gay dance group called Bob’s Dance Shop. A group of children can be seen dancing near the front of the stage while the performers dance suggestively. 
      

• Those engaged in the sexualization of children aim to objectify children as sex objects. The innocence of childhood is under sustained assault. And some disgusting parents are cheering it on.

O’Rourke Applauded Efforts To Defund Police

• In a new ad released by Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign, Democrat Robert “Beto” O’Rourke is shown supporting Black Lives Matter and praising the movement for its attempts to defund and dismantle police departments. Emily Wilkerson has the details.
      
• “I really love that Black Lives Matter has—and other protesters have—put this front and center, to defund these line items that have over-militarized our police. And then also, in some necessary cases, completely dismantling those police forces and rebuilding them,” said O’Rourke during the 2020 riots.
      
• O’Rourke responded to the governor’s ad by claiming he has never supported defunding the police and would fully fund law enforcement as governor.
      
• “Don’t believe what I said then about police funding, believe what I say now.” – every Democrat like Beta O’Rourke who wanted to defund police.
      
• Gov. Abbott, on the other hand, signed legislation last year that would punish Texas cities and jurisdictions that cut funding for law enforcement.
      
• A recent poll found defunding the police is opposed by 59 percent of voters in Texas.

School District Wants Taxpayers To Pay For Teacher Housing

• Voters in Pflugerville Independent School District are being asked to approve in November’s election a $367.6 million bond package, including nearly $44 million to build housing units restricted to use by the district’s teachers. Darrell Frost has the story.
      
• Other school districts in Texas and across the country have also floated the idea of purchasing or constructing teacher housing. Earlier this year, Austin ISD considered adding a $50 million bond proposal to the ballot for November, but trustees put the plan on hold.

Rural County Calls For Secession

• Last week, commissioners in Edwards County—located in southwest Texas—called on the state Legislature to put a secession question on the 2023 general election ballot. Soli Rice has the details.
     
• The commissioners list an abundance of grievances against the United States federal government “including the national debt, usurpation of states’ rights, restrictions on private industry, curbs on the Second Amendment, and failures to enforce immigration laws, among others.”

Support Texas Scorecard!

Will you make a special, tax-deductible contribution to support the mission and work of Texas Scorecard? We don’t take government grants or corporate sponsorships, and we don’t put our content behind a paywall. Your support makes Texas Scorecard possible!

Y’All Answered

With in-person early voting starting on Monday and continuing for the next two weeks, we asked what readers thought of the practice.

Overall, readers like having the option of early voting (63.4 percent), versus 36.6 percent who would like the practice eliminated. However, as you will see, a lot of readers expressed an interest in seeing the practice overhauled. 

Here’s a sampling of the feedback…

• “Early voting is convenient, to be sure; but every time we choose convenience, we lose intentionality and that gives way to complacency.” – Ken Bintliff
     

• “I like having the option to vote early, but we don’t need two weeks of early voting; about three days would work. Main thing is keeping elections SECURE!” – Mary Matthews
    

• “Early voting reduces the lines on Election Day and is a worthwhile activity. A far more important issue is complying with election law and following proper procedure. Unless election integrity is practiced by all election workers, elections can be compromised in early voting or on Election Day.” – Tom Camardo
      

• “I would prefer that everyone vote on the same day, but that will only work if there are sufficient voting places and staff to prevent long lines. Otherwise, chaos will rule and too many voters will not wish to participate in the voting process.” – Romeo Riojas
     

• “Early voting simplifies the process that is required at the end of voting, and it also eliminates lines formed by voters.” – Barbara McClure
     

• “I like the early voting. I usually vote early, should anything keep me from voting on Election Day. I just want my vote counted!” – Danny Thompson 
     

• “Though I take advantage of voting early, I would honestly prefer voting on Election Day only.” – Katie Long
     

• “I like the concept of early voting, but one week ought to be sufficient. … Seems to me there is less opportunity for fraud if all vote on the same day.” – Roxann Swenson
      

• “I like early voting for the convenience. … If early voting was to end, I would not shed a tear.” – Zach Dunnam
      

• “I like the option of being able to vote early, however, I think it should be limited. My personal preference would be to have only the weekend and Monday immediately before Election Day for early voting, with no time between EV and ED for shenanigans! I live in Harris County...need I say more?” – Brenda Estis
     

• “People can still vote on Election Day.  But taking away early voting means those who can’t make it to the polls that day lose their vote. How is that fair?” – Jim Pikl
      

• “Only vote on Election Day. It could be made a holiday or something similar. The more days of voting that are allowed, the greater the chance of shenanigans.” – Eric Knutson
      

• “The smaller the window for fraud, the better!” – Kathy Fisher
      

• “There is no conceivable reason for early voting. There has always been absentee voting, which requires an affirmative application and cause to be eligible for. Early voting is solely about the enemy's ability to manufacture votes after they know what deficit they need to overcome.” – Mike Phillips
      

• “I think it is helpful to have early in-person voting available, but I also feel two weeks is too long a timeframe for it. I would prefer it to be three days or, at most, one week.” – Rick Orr
      

• “The more important question is absentee voting by mail. That is ripe for fraud and creates a disproportionate amount of handling for election officials.” – Richard Steenson
      

• “Early voting should be just one week instead of two. I prefer voting on Election Day, but Congress must make it a national holiday so people who work have the day off to have a chance to vote.” – Greg Burr
      

• “Apparently, standing in a long line to vote is a ‘hassle,’ not a privilege. My concern is that too many would stay home on Election Day if that were the only day to vote.” – Courtney Pessa
      

• “As a retired firefighter/EMT, when I was on shift work, early voting was the only way I could vote. People who insist we should only vote on Election Day have apparently never worked a 24-hour shift!” – Kim Roland
     

• “The reason everyone should vote on Election Day is so much can happen in two weeks to change people’s minds.” – Jeff Lanham
      

• “I like the option of early voting, but for a shorter period.  I usually vote early, but will vote on Election Day this year.” – Meg Comstock
     

• “I’ll never vote early again. I don’t want the enemy to know how many votes they need to cheat by.” – Tonya Trantham
     

• “I do like early voting in order to avoid very long lines on Election Day; however, I am vehemently opposed to mail-in, drop boxes, and drive-by voting that allows the opportunity to CHEAT!” – Judy Henson
      

• “Early voting is a must for a representative republic. If something unforeseen happens to a voter on Election Day (illness, work, accident, etc.), they lose their voice in their government for that cycle. I vote as soon as the early polls open. I want my vote to count.” – Jason Kerr
     

• “We should either make early voting one week, or have everyone vote on Election Day. Two weeks is definitely too long!” – Cindy Highlander

Your Federal & State Lawmakers

The districts displayed here should reflect those recently redrawn by the Legislature. Though the new lines do not take representational effect until 2023, they will appear on the 2022 ballot. Please note that your incumbent legislator and/or district numbers may have changed.