Victory for Harris County Voters After DSCC, DCCC, MJ Hegar Campaign Intervene to Block Republican Attempts to Toss Out 100,000 Texans’ Ballots

One day before Election Day, a federal district court judge in the Southern District of Texas sided with Harris County Voters, stating plainly that the Republican “plaintiffs do not have standing” to throw out their legally cast ballots.

DSCC Chairwoman Catherine Cortez Masto and DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos issued the following statement:

“We are proud to stand on the side of everyday people in Harris County who are making their voices heard in our Democracy, and doing so at record numbers. Our message to voting Texans is simple: Republicans do not want you to cast your ballot because they do not want you to have a say in your Democracy, but your vote is your voice and we encourage you to make yourself heard.”

This ruling follows Democrats’ intervention on Friday, that urged the court to take swift action to block a Republican suit that, if successful, would have invalidated the votes of 100,000 eligible Texas voters who cast their ballots at drive-thru voting locations. If Republicans had been successful this clear Republican voter suppression tactic would have thrown this election into chaos after voters utilized Drive-Thru voting locations at the invitation of county officials and in compliance of the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to allow Drive-Thru voting to occur.

Democrats’ ‘Motion to Intervene’ reminded the Court that:  

• Harris County’s drive-thru voting was approved by the Texas Secretary of State and has been used by over 100,000 Texas voters. Harris County’s Drive-Thru voting program was approved by the Texas Secretary of State this summer and successfully piloted during Texas primaries, and was reported as a resounding success. Since October 2020, more than 100,000 eligible Texas voters have used the program. 

• Nearly identical litigation has already been rejected by the Texas Supreme Court and identical litigation—by the same plaintiffs—is currently pending before the Texas Supreme Court. Republican plaintiffs have already unsuccessfully brought this case before the Texas Supreme Court where it was rejected and is expected to be rejected again. The issue remains pending in the Texas Supreme Court. 

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