COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

29TH Dls'rmcr Texas 0 SJBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER

SUBCOMMITTEE 0N ENVIRONMENT AND
THE ECONOMY

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(202) 225-1688
- SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND

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DEMOCRATIC SENIOR WHIP
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77060

?28? 999-5879 mashiugtnn. MI BUSH-4329

11811 HO Em
SUITE 430
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77029
(713) 330-0761

HOUSE GOV GREEN

March 15,2016

The Honorable Loretta E. 
Attorney General

US. Department of Justice

950 Avenue NW
Washington, DC. 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General 

We are writing to respectfully request an investigation by the US. Department of Justice
into the distribution of voting machines and polling stations for the March 1, 2016 Primary
Election in Harris County, Texas.

On March 1, we witnessed excessively long lines in predominately Hispanic and African-
American precincts in Harris County due to the lack of voting machines and polling locations.
The failure to distribute suf?cient voting machines in predominately Hispanic and African-
American precincts in Harris County, in comparison to the resources made available in more
af?uent, predominately Anglo precincts in the county, had a discriminatory impact on our
constituents? ability to participate in the political process. The largest news outlets in the
Houston media market, including the Houston Chronicle], and KTRK3, reported on
excessively long lines at polling locations in historically Hispanic and African-American
neighborhoods in Harris County, which deterred a large number of Americans of color from
exercising their right to vote that day.

I In light of the recent enactment of Texas?s Voter Identi?cation Law, which has created
new barriers for historically underrepresented communities from voting, it is imperative that the

a!

?Tuesday anything but super for some Texas Voters,? Houston Chronicle, March 2, 2016,

voters-686693212119

2 ?Long lines, short tempers at some polling places,? KHOU, March 1, 2016,
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3 ?Long Lines of Voters Waited Outside Poll Location in East Houston,? KTRK, March 1, 2016,

http://abc I 3 1 22640 11'

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US. Department of Justice investigate the unequal distribution of voting machines and polling
stations in Harris County to ensure that all voters, regarding of race, color, or language, have
access to the ballot box.

Thank you for your consideration and prompt response on this important matter. Please
feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

 
   

Gene Gr 

Member of Congress Member of Congress