Texas will extend early voting period this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott says

[RandySF]

Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday he will extend the early voting period for an unspecified amount of time during the November election as concerns continue to persist around in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

Abbott has already doubled the time period for the primary runoff election July 14, calling it necessary so that "election officials can implement appropriate social distancing and safe hygiene practices."

In a TV interview Thursday afternoon, Abbott was asked if he believes Texas voters will be able to cast their ballots safely not only this summer but also in the fall.

"We do, and for this reason, and that is ... Texas has always had early voting, and what I did for the July time period and what we will do again for the November time period is we will extend the early voting period," Abbott said in the interview with KCBD in Lubbock. "And what that does — it allows more people to go vote early in settings that are not highly congregated. As a result, you can go vote without having to worry about a whole bunch of people being around you that you could contract COVID-19 from. That makes voting a lot safer [of a] setting than it would otherwise be with the shortened early voting time period."



https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/28/texas-2020-early-voting-greg-abbott-coronavirus/

[dlk]

1. Mail-in ballots aren't the only safe way to conduct the election in the midst of a pandemic

Abbott, like most a Republicans, fears the will of the people and suppresses the vote. No one should have to risk their health and safety (and perhaps their life) to vote. Republicans know this and really don’t care.