FILED 20-0863 10/27/2020 10:48 PM tex-47581770 SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS BLAKE A. HAWTHORNE, CLERK NO. _________ In the Supreme Court of Texas IN RE STEVEN HOTZE, M.D., WENDELL CHAMPION, HON. STEVE TOTH, AND SHARON HEMPHILL, Relators, On Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the Harris County Clerk P E T I T I O N F O R W R I T O F MA ND A MU S JARED WOODFILL Woodfill Law Firm, P.C. State Bar No. 00788715 3 Riverway, Ste. 750 Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 751-3080 (Telephone) (713) 751-3058 (Facsimile) woodfillservice@gmail.com Counsel for Relators i Identity of Parties and Counsel 1. Relators Steven F. Hotze, MD Katy, Texas 77450 (Harris County) Dr. Hotze is a registered voter in Harris County and will be voting in the general election. Hon. Steve Toth Conroe, Texas 77384. State Representative Toth is a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 15. Representative Toth is on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Wendell Champion Houston, Texas 77002 Mr. Champion is the Republican nominee for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Texas. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020. Sharon Hemphill Spring, Texas 77379 . Sharon Hemphill is a registered voter in Harris County. Sharon Hemphill is the Republican nominee for judge of the Texas 80th District Court, Harris County, Texas. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020. She advanced from the Republican primary on March 3, 2020. Lawyer for Relators: Jared R. Woodfill ii State Bar No. 00788715 3 Riverway, Ste. 750 Houston, Texas 77056 Tel: (713) 751-3080 Fax: (713) 751-3058 woodfillservice@gmail.com 2. Respondent Hon. Chris Hollins Harris County Clerk 201 Caroline Street, Suite 310 Houston, Texas 77002 Lawyer for Respondent Hollins: Vince Ryan Office of the Harris County Attorney 1019 Congress, 15th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 vince.ryan@cao.hctx.net iii Table of Contents Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................iv Index of Authorities ................................................................................................ vii Statement of the Case.................................................................................................1 Statement of Jurisdiction............................................................................................5 Statement of the Issues Presented .............................................................................. 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................8 Statement of Facts ....................................................................................................10 I. Respondent Hollins’ Ministerial Duties Under the Texas Election Code.....................................................................................................10 II. Respondent Hollins Is Permitting Countywide Drive-Thru Voting In Direct Violation of the Texas Election Code ......................................11 Arguments ................................................................................................................12 I. Hollins is Violating the United States Constitution ............................12 A. The Election Clause Requires this Court to Uphold the Manner of Voting Defined by the Legislature in the Texas Election Code ..........................................................................................12 1. The Texas Election Code Should Be Strictly Construed ........................................................................................14 2. Hollins Attempts to Redefine Polling Location ............. 15 3. Texas Attorney General Recently Addressed Drive-Thru Voting .............................................................................18 iv B. II. 4. The Texas Legislature has Rejected “Drive-Thru” Voting ........................................................................................18 5. Drive-Thru Voting Locations Placed in Democratic Strongholds .....................................................................19 6. Over 100,000 Illegal Drive-Thru Votes Have Been Cast ........................................................................................19 Hollins’ Drive-Thru Voting Scheme Violates the Fourteenth Amendment ...............................................................................19 Mandamus is Appropriate to Compel Compliance with a NonDiscretionary, Ministerial Duty...........................................................20 A. B. Respondent Hollins Has a Ministerial Duty to Review Each Sworn Application in Order to Verify that the Applicant Has Supplied All of the Required Information to Permit Curbside Voting........................................................................................21 Respondent Hollins Has a Ministerial Duty to Reject an Application for Curbside Voting That Does Not contain the Required Information to Permit Curbside Voting ....................21 III. Respondent Hollins is Permitting Curbside Voting to Voters Not Entitled to Vote Curbside in Breach of His Ministerial Duties Under the Texas Election Code ......................................................................23 IV. Relators Are Being Harmed, and Will Continue to Be Harmed, Absent Relief ...................................................................................................24 V. Realtors Have No Other Adequate Remedy .......................................25 Prayer .......................................................................................................................25 Certificate of Service ...............................................................................................28 TRAP 52.3(J) Certification ......................................................................................29 v Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................30 Appendix vi CASES Index of Authorities PAGE(S) Anderson v. Seven Points, 806 S.W.2d 791 (Tex. 1991) ...................................20, 21 Ariz. State Legislature v. Ariz. Indep. Redistricting Comm’n, 576 U.S. 787 (2015) ..................................................................................................................................13 Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962).........................................................................25 Bejarano v. Hunter, 899 S.W.2d 346 (Tex. App. 1995)..........................................23 Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000) ................................................................13, 14, 20 Bush v. Palm Beach Cty. Canvassing Bd., 531 U.S. 70, 121 S. Ct. 471 (2000) ..... 14 Cooke v. Garlike, 531 U.S. 510 (2001) .............................................................12, 13 Dickson v. Strickland, 265 S.W. 1012 (Tex. 1924) ................................................... 5 Gill v. Whitford, 138 S. Ct. 1916 (2018)..................................................................25 Grant v. Ammerman, 437 S.W.2d 547 (Tex. 1969) ................................................... 5 In re Carlisle, 209 S.W.3d 93 (Tex.2006) ................................................................. 6 In re Hotze, 2020 Tex. Lexis 680 (July 17, 2020) .............................................14, 15 In re Hotze, No. 20-0819 (October 22, 2020)..............................................15, 16, 17 In re Robinson, 175 S.W.3d 824 (Tex. App. 2005) ...........................................21, 23 In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. 2020) ...................................................2, 8, 16, 22 In re Tex. Senate, 36 S.W.3d 119 (Tex. 2000) .......................................................... 6 In re Woodfill, 470 S.W.3d 473 (Tex. 2015) ............................................................. 6 McPherson v. Blacker, 146 U.S. 1, 13 S. Ct. 3 (1892) ............................................14 vii Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) ..............................................................24, 25 Richardson v. Hughs, No. 20-50774, 2020 WL 6127721, at *1–2 (5th Cir. Oct. 19, 2020) ........................................................................................................................15 Sears v. Bayoud, 786 S.W.2d 248 (Tex. 1990).......................................................... 6 Smiley v. Holm, 285 U.S. 355 (1932) ......................................................................13 State v. Hollins, No. 20-0729, 64 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 40, 2020, 2020 Tex. LEXIS 929 (Tex. Oct. 7, 2020) ...................................................................................................14 Storer v. Brown, 415 U.S. 724 (1974) .....................................................................13 Turner v. Pruitt, 161 Tex. 532, 342 S.W.2d 422 (1961) .........................................20 Womack v. Berry, 156 Tex. 44, 291 S.W.2d 677 (1956) .........................................20 Constitutional Provisions, Statutes, and Rules: USCS Const. Amend. 14 .......................................................................................2, 7 USCS Const. Amend. 14, § 1 ..................................................................................19 USCS Const. Art. I, § 4, Cl 1 .....................................................................2, 7, 12, 13 USCS Const. Art. II, § 1, Cl 2 .................................................................................13 Tex. Elec. Code § 64 ................................................................................................22 Tex. Elec. Code § 64.001, .009(a) ...........................................................................16 Tex. Elec. Code § 64.009 ...............................................................1, 5, 10, 20, 21, 22 Tex. Elec. Code § 64.09(a) ......................................................................................16 Tex. Elec. Code § 82 ................................................................................................22 viii Tex. Elec. Code § 82.002(a) ....................................................................................22 Tex. Elec. Code § 82.02 ...................................................................1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 22 Tex. Elec. Code § 83.002 .......................................................................................3, 8 Tex. Elec. Code § 84.001 .........................................................................................21 Tex. Elec. Code § 85.036(a) ....................................................................................17 Tex. Elec. Code § 85.062(b) ....................................................................................17 Tex. Elec. Code § 104 ..............................................................................................22 Tex. Elec. Code § 104.001 ...................................................................................3, 22 Tex. Elec. Code § 104.001-104.005 ..........................................................1, 5, 10, 20 Tex. Elec. Code § 273.061 .....................................................................................5, 6 Tex. Elec. Code § 273.081 .......................................................................................25 Tex. R. App. P. 52.3...................................................................................................5 Other Authorities: Erin Anderson, Texas AG: Legal Action for Unlawful Drive-Thru Voting, Texas Scorecard, October 20, 2020 ....................................................................................19 Webster’s New collegiate Dictionary (1975) ..........................................................17 ix Statement of the Case Nature of the Case Respondent Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins’ Offices created a new “manner” of voting in Harris County, “drive-thru” voting. Drive-thru voting is not recognized in the Texas Election Code. Hollins’ drive-thru voting scheme allows any and all Harris County registered voters – regardless of whether they are permitted to do so under the Texas Election Code – to engage in early and election day “drive-thru” voting. Hollins who is a Democrat and currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chair of Finance for the Democratic Party of Texas, has identified ten (10) drive-thru voting locations and placed nine (9) of the locations in heavily Democratic areas. [App. ___] Through the Texas Election Code, the Legislature chose not to recognize drive-thru voting; however, the Texas Legislature did expressly create a narrowly defined exception to voting in person for those who are physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or likelihood of injuring the voter health - “curb-side voting.” Tex. Elect. Code §§64.009, 82.02, and 104.001104.005. The Legislature restricted curbside voting to three distinct categories: (i) presents sick at the time of the vote; (ii) a voter has a physical condition requiring personal assistance (e.g., is physically handicapped); or (iii) voting inside the polling 1 location would create a likelihood of injuring the voter’s health. Id. Additionally, if a voter qualifies as disabled under Texas Election Code § 82.002 the voter is eligible to vote by mail. This Court recently held that a voter’s lack of immunity to COVID19, without more, is not a “disability” as defined by the Election Code, and therefore, is not a sufficient basis to permit a voter to validly vote by mail. In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549, 550 (Tex. 2020) (a voter’s general fear or lack of immunity from COVID-19 is not a “disability” as defined by the Election Code). By indiscriminately encouraging and allowing any and all Harris County registered voters to cast their ballots curb side on this invalid basis, Respondent’s ultra vires act regarding drive-thru voting is a violation of state and federal law and must be stopped. By circumventing the Texas Legislature and implementing a manner of voting not recognized in the Texas Election Code, Respondent is violating Art. I, section IV, clause 1 of the United States Constitution. Additionally, by adopting a manner of voting that is inconsistent with the Texas Election Code and not adopted by any other county in Texas, Respondent is violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, Relators seek mandamus relief to compel Respondent to perform his nondiscretionary, ministerial duties to restrict curbside voting to only those Harris County registered voters who have submitted sworn applications which 2 facially satisfy at least one of the specific categories permitting curbside voting under the Texas Election Code. Respondent Chris Hollins, in his official capacity as the Harris County Clerk, who, under Section 83.002 of the Texas Election Code (early voting) and Section 104.001 of the Texas Election Code (election day voting), is designated as the “Early Voting Clerk.” Relief Requested Respondent should be required to stop drive-thru voting and only allow curbside voting for registered voters in Harris County who have submitted the required sworn application to vote curbside or who submitted an application which facially satisfies any of the required criteria for curb-side voting. On Saturday, October 31, 2020, all the Judge’s Booth Controllers (“JBC”) from early voting will be delivered to central count at NRG. [App.____]. Seals will be broken and the memory cards - Mobile Ballot Box (“MBB”) will be accessed to count the number of ballots contained in each MBB-not tally the vote. [App. A]. On the morning of November 3, 2020, the same MBBs will be connected to the Tally machine to download the actual ballots contained. [App. A]. The Tally machine will then conduct the counting/tabulation process for early votes utilizing the drive thru process. [App. A]. After 7:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020, Respondent will enter 3 the MBBs from election day votes at drive thru location into the Tally machine to conducting the counting/tabulation of election day votes at drive-thru locations. [App. A]. Accordingly, Relators are asking this Court to require all memory cards from the ten (10) drive-thru voting locations be secured and not entered or downloaded into the Tally machine until this Court issues an order on Relators’ Petition for Writ of Mandamus. 4 Statement of Jurisdiction Texas Election Code §273.061 gives the Court original jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus “to compel the performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the holding of an election.” The Relators have a compelling reason to request mandamus from this Court in the first instance. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.3. The November 3rd, 2020 general election is quickly approaching and Respondent is allowing drive-thru voting for all voters regardless of whether the voter: (i) is sick at the time of the vote; (ii) has a physical condition requiring personal assistance (e.g., is physically handicapped); or (iii) voting inside the polling location would create a likelihood of injuring the voter’s health. Tex. Elec. Code §§ 64.009, 82.02 and 104.001-005. This Court has stated "that an election in this state is not a single event, but a process, and that the entire process is subject to contest." Dickson v. Strickland, 265 S.W. 1012, 1018 (Tex. 1924). This case involves the enforcement by mandamus of duties involved with the "holding of an election," an election being the entire process including the date early voting begins and when a voter can deliver a marked ballot by mail in person to the early voting clerk’s office. Grant v. Ammerman, 437 S.W.2d 547, 548-49 (Tex. 1969). Mandamus will lie to enforce ministerial duties arising in connection with an election. Id. 5 In this Petition for Writ of Mandamus, Relators are challenging the process of the election, i.e., the manner in which the Respondent is implementing a drivethru voting scheme that is not recognized under the Texas Election Code. Relators include federal and state candidates on the November 3, 2020 ballot in Harris County, Texas, (Wendell Champion, Hon. Steve Toth, and Sharon Hemphill) and a voter/activist (Dr. Steven Hotze). Relators ask the Court to use the power granted by the Election Code “to compel the performance of any duty imposed by law in connection with the holding of an election.” Tex. Elec. Code § 273.061. When time is of the essence, this Court has not hesitated to exercise its mandamus authority. See, e.g., In re Woodfill, 470 S.W.3d 473, 481 (Tex. 2015) (per curiam); In re Carlisle, 209 S.W.3d 93, 95-96 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam); In re Tex. Senate, 36 S.W.3d 119, 121 (Tex. 2000); Sears v. Bayoud, 786 S.W.2d 248, 250 & n.1 (Tex. 1990). The Court should exercise its original mandamus authority again in that Hollins illegal actions have begun and will continue through election day. 6 Statement of the Issues Presented 1. Does Respondent Hollins’ drive-thru voting violate Article I, Section IV, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution in that Hollins redefines the manner of conducting elections in Harris County contrary to the Texas Election Code? 2. Does Respondent Hollins’ drive-thru voting violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution? 3. Is Respondent failing to perform his nondiscretionary, ministerial duties by encouraging and permitting Harris County registered voters to cast their ballots curbside/drive-thru even though they do not satisfy any of the three specific categories permitting curbside voting under the Texas Election Code? 7 Introduction Under Section 83.002 of the Texas Election Code, Respondent has the responsibility of enforcing the election laws to ensure a fair and honest election in Harris County. Despite the fact that the Texas Election Code restricts curb-side voting to specific and narrowly defined categories of voters, and fails to recognize drive-thru voting, Respondent has implemented a drive-thru voting scheme that is violating the law. Respondent abusing the COVID-19 pandemic as his pretext – of permitting any and all Harris County registered voters to vote curbside or as Hollins terms it-drive-thru. On May 15, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court rejected Respondent’s contention that a voter’s lack of immunity from COVID-19 and concern about contracting it at a polling place constitutes a “disability” within the meaning of the statute permitting a voter to cast a ballot by mail. In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549, 550 (Tex. 2020). The exact same rationale applies with equal force to Respondent’s latest attempt to ignore the narrow confines of the carefully defined standards for the three types of situations where a voter may properly vote curbside under the Texas Election Code. None of those instances are satisfied by a voter’s lack of immunity to COVID-19, or by a generalized subjective fear of contracting a virus, or by a desire for “convenience” or to enjoy the “comfort” of one’s vehicle while voting. Unless stopped, illegal votes will be cast and counted in direct 8 violation of the Texas Election Code and the United States Constitution and result in the integrity of elections in Harris County being compromised. 9 Statement of Facts I. Respondent Hollins’ Ministerial Duties Under the Texas Election Code As the early voting clerk for Harris County, Respondent has the responsibility of enforcing the election laws to ensure a fair and honest election in Harris County. One of the statutory election mandates for which Respondent Hollins is responsible deals with curb-side voting. This is a method of voting whereby a qualifying voter may vote from a vehicle in lieu of coming inside to vote at a polling location. In order to take advantage of curb-side voting, a registered voter must prepare and sign a sworn application. The application is similar to the application for vote by mail, and a voter must affirmatively check specific boxes on the form in order to facially demonstrate to the Early Voting Clerk (Respondent Hollins) compliance with the curbside voting statutes under the Texas Election Code. Under Texas Election Code, curbside voting is restricted to distinct categories: (i) the voter is sick at the time of the vote; (ii) the voter has a physical condition requiring personal assistance (e.g., is physically handicapped); or (iii) voting inside the polling location would create a likelihood of injuring the voter’s health. Tex. Elec. Code §§ 64.009, 82.02 and 104.001-005. Despite the fact that the Texas Election Code restricts curbside voting to specific and narrowly defined categories of voters, Respondent– using the COVID- 10 19 pandemic as his pretext – is permitting any and all Harris County registered voters to vote curbside or drive-thru and vote. II. Respondent Hollins Is Permitting Countywide Drive-Thru Voting In Direct Violation of the Texas Election Code Respondent Hollins has implemented a countywide “drive-thru” voting program for every registered voter in Harris County. A true and correct transcription of the pertinent excerpt from a press conference where Respondent Hollins identifies the program is attached to the Appendix to this Mandamus Petition. See App. B At 5-6. Beginning at the 4-minute mark, and continuing on to 4:33, Respondent Hollins said the following: “Drive-thru voting is an option for all voters who would like to be able to vote from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Drive-thru voting allows those who don’t qualify to vote by mail to minimize your exposure to other voters and to election workers. While we hope to have short lines across the county, drive-thru voters waiting in line will be able to wait in the comfort of your vehicle where you can listen to the radio or converse with loved ones until you are pointed to your drive-thru voting booth. We hope that Harris County voters will consider utilizing drive-thru voting.” See App. B At 5-6. Hollins’ position is that anyone and everyone may vote curb side in Harris County should they wish to do so. Because Respondent Hollins is allowing Harris County Registered voters to vote curb side (drive-thru) without regard to whether they are eligible to vote curbside, and because of the very clear threat of imminent harm which will result from ineligible curbside voting taking place in violation of the Texas Election Code and 11 the United States Constitution, Relators bring this Mandamus Petition to mandate compliance by the Respondent with his clear and non-discretionary ministerial duties. Argument I. Hollins is Violating the United States Constitution Respondent Hollins’ drive-thru voting scheme violates Article I, Section IV, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution in that Hollins redefines the manner of conducting elections in Harris County contrary to the Texas Election Code. Additionally, Hollins violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause by adopting a manner of voting in Harris County that has not been adopted by other Texas’ counties. A. The Election Clause Requires this Court to Uphold the Manner of Voting Defined by the Legislature in the Texas Election Code The Constitution’s Elections Clause directs that “[t]he Times, Places, and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof,” subject to the directives of Congress. U.S. Const. Art. I, § 4, Cl. 1. Because federal offices “arise from the Constitution itself,” any “state authority to regulate election to those offices . . . had to be delegated to, rather than reserved by, the States.” Cook v. Gralike, 531 U.S. 510, 522 (2001). The 12 Constitution effected such delegations to State Legislatures through the Electors and Elections Clauses. See U.S. Const. Art. II, § 1, Cl. 2; id. Art. I, § 4, Cl. 1. The Elections Clause vests State Legislatures, subject to Congress’s enactments, with authority “to provide a complete code for congressional elections.” Smiley v. Holm, 285 U.S. 355, 366 (1932); see also Ariz. State Legislature v. Ariz. Indep. Redistricting Comm’n, 576 U.S. 787, 826 (2015) (Roberts, C.J., dissenting) (noting that the Elections Clause “imposes a duty on States and assigns that duty to a particular state actor”). This “broad power to prescribe the procedural mechanisms for holding congressional elections,” Cook v. Granlike, 531 U.S. 510, 523 (2001) (internal quotation marks omitted), includes authority to enact “the numerous requirements as to the procedure and safeguards which experience shows are necessary in order to enforce the fundamental right involved,” Smiley, 285 U.S. at 366; Cook, 531 U.S. at 523–24; see also Storer v. Brown, 415 U.S. 724, 730 (1974) (stating that state legislatures may enact election laws in order to ensure that elections are “fair and honest” and that “some sort of order, rather than chaos, is to accompany the democratic process”). This sweeping grant of authority means that “the text of [state] election law itself, and not just its interpretation by the courts of the States, takes on independent significance,” Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98, 112–13 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., concurring), and the federal Constitution “operate[s] as a limitation upon the State in respect of any attempt to circumscribe the [delegated] 13 legislative power,” Palm Beach Cnty., 531 U.S. at 76; McPherson, 146 U.S. at 25. The United States Supreme Court has made it clear that “[a] significant departure from the legislative scheme for electing U.S. Representatives—including when such departure is carried out by the state judiciary—thus presents a federal constitutional question.” Bush, 531 U.S. at 113 (Rehnquist, C.J., concurring); see also Palm Beach Cnty., 531 U.S. at 76; McPherson, 146 U.S. at 25. Here, the Texas Legislature has created a detailed statutory scheme related to curb-side voting to govern the conduct of federal elections. Respondent Hollins has significantly departed from the legislative scheme regarding curb-side voting. By allowing Hollins to significantly alter the manner of voting that has not been prescribed by the Legislature, Hollins’ drive-thru voting scheme violates the United States Constitution Art. I, § 4, Cl. 1. Relators requests this Court stop Hollins from rewriting an integral part of the Texas Election Code’s comprehensive scheme for regulating the manner for conducting federal elections. 1. The Texas Election Code Should Be Strictly Construed “This Court has stated in no uncertain terms that county election officials possess only those powers ‘granted in express words’ or ‘necessarily or fairly implied in an express grant.’” In re Hotze, No. 20-0819 (October 22, 2020) (Devine, J., dissenting, quoting State v. Hollins, No. 20-0729, 2020 WL 5919729, at *4 (Tex. 14 Oct. 7, 2020) (per curiam) (internal quotations omitted)). As Justice Devine writes in his dissent in In re Hotze, “These implied powers are themselves narrow—they must be ‘indispensable,’ ‘not simply convenient.’” Id. The powers are governed by a “lengthy, detailed, and comprehensive Election Code.” Id. at *2. Hollins acts are outside the scope of the Election Code and constitute ultra vires conduct that undermine the integrity of the election process. See Richardson v. Hughs, No. 2050774, 2020 WL 6127721, at *1–2 (5th Cir. Oct. 19, 2020). “Though certain enumerated powers may create a narrow range of implied powers, the Legislature’s silence on an issue raises the presumption that it has not granted that power.” In re Hotze, No. 20-0819 (October 22, 2020) (Devine, J., dissenting). Nothing in the Texas Election Code allows for Hollins’ drive-thru voting. 2. Hollins Attempts to Redefine Polling Location Under Respondent Hollins’ drive-thru voting scheme, a car is turned into a polling location. Specifically, to drive-thru vote, the voter never exits the vehicle. Instead, the voter sits in their car as the e-slate is hand delivered to the voter who then cast their vote within the confines of their vehicle. It should be noted that many times these votes are cast by numerous people in one car, eliminating the confidentiality surrounding one’s vote. The garages, tents, canopies, and other “coverings” the car drives into are not the actual polling location -the polling place is the car. The e-slate is physically placed in the car, the vote is cast in the car, and 15 the voter remains in the car. [App. C]. The voter never physically exits the car. [App. C]. A car is not a polling place. If a car is a polling place, Harris County now has millions of voting locations around the county that change locations throughout the day. Attached, as App. C, are photos of voters utilizing “drive-thru” voting. The Election Code mandates that a registered voter cast a ballot in a “voting station” at a “polling place.” See TEX. ELEC. CODE §§ 64.001, .009(a). Qualified individuals may request their ballot curbside in a vehicle on election day and throughout the early voting period. Id. § 64.009(a). This exception applies only to those physically unable to enter the polling place without assistance or for whom a likelihood of injury exists. Id.; see also In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549, 550 (Tex. 2020) (a voter’s general fear or lack of immunity from COVID-19 is not a “disability” as defined by the Election Code). Otherwise, voting is to take place in a “polling place.” TEX. ELEC. CODE § 64.009(a). Respondent has previously argued that rows of semi-permanent tents where election officers stand awaiting dozens of cars, inside of which any voter may cast a ballot, qualify as a “polling place.” In his dissent in In re Hotze, Justice Devine rejects Hollins’ definition, stating, “I struggle to see how the Election Code contemplates such a novel concoction. Hollins stretches the text of the Code beyond its historical and common-sense understanding.” In re Hotze, No. 20-0819 (October 22, 2020) (Devine, J., dissenting). 16 The Texas Election Code states that polling locations “may be located in any stationary structure,” including a “movable structure.” Id. § 85.062(b). Hollins has previously argued that these “tents” satisfy the requirements of movable structure. However, as Justice Devine has stated, “[T]he Texas Election Code likely contemplates that ‘structure’ is a place one enters to get to the polling place; the structure itself is not the polling place.” In re Hotze, No. 20-0819 (October 22, 2020) (Devine, J. dissenting). The Texas Election Code prohibits electioneering “within 100 feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building or structure in which the early voting polling place is located.” Texas Elec. Code § 85.036(a) (emphasis added). As Justice Devine has previously identified, “The prepositional phrase ‘in which’ indicates that the polling place is to be inside of a building or structure. The structure itself cannot be the polling place and the voting station rolled into one. Even harder to understand is how one’s vehicle could qualify as a ‘polling place,’ as it is not a ‘structure’ as commonly understood. Nor can one’s vehicle be a ‘voting station,’ which is a specific location designated for voters to cast a ballot. Station, WEBSTER’S NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY (1975) (“[A] place established to provide a public service.” (emphasis added)).” Id. Hollins’ expansion of the statute manifests itself in the absurd result that every voter’s vehicle is a “polling place” or “voting station.” Id. 17 3. Texas Attorney General Recently Addressed Drive-Thru Voting On October 16, 2020, Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed the issue of “drive-thru” voting. [App. D]. In the letter General Paxton states, among other things, that Texas Election Code “makes no provision for ‘drive-thru’ voting centers at which any voter may cast a ballot from his or her vehicle.” [App. D]. 4. The Texas Legislature has Rejected “Drive-Thru” Voting Legislators have previously attempted to amend the Texas Election Code to allow a form of Respondent Hollins’ “drive-thru” voting scheme. During the 2019 legislative session, legislation was proposed to allow polling places to accommodate parents with young children, HB 2898. [App. E]. Because Texas law required curbside voting for people with disabilities, HB 2898 left it up to local election officials to decide whether to offer curbside voting for parents with young children. [App. E]. The bill also created a study to be performed by the Texas Secretary of State’s office that would evaluate the best practices for curbside voting for people with children and report it to the legislature by December 2020. [App. E]. The Texas House approved the bill that supporters believed would increase voter turnout by allowing parents with children younger than five (5) years old to participate in curbside voting. The argument is similar to that made by Respondent Hollins as a justification for his drive-thru voting scheme. On May 8, 2019, the House gave the bill final approval in a 90-52 vote. However, the Texas Senate failed to pass the bill. 18 Here, Hollins is asking this Court to implement a form of “drive-thru” voting that is much broader than one previously rejected by the Legislature. A pandemic should not be a license for this Court to turn into a super-legislature. If the Texas Legislature has effectively rejected Hollins’ scheme, so too should this Court. 5. Drive-Thru Voting Locations Placed in Democratic Strongholds Nine of the ten “drive-thru” voting locations in Harris County are placed in areas that vote heavily Democratic. [App. G]. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (RHouston) recently noted nine of the 10 drive-thru voting locations are in Democrat areas of the county, adding that “nothing in the Texas election code allows Mr. Hollins to do this setup.” Erin Anderson, Texas AG: Legal Action for Unlawful Drive-Thru Voting, Texas Scorecard, October 20, 2020. 6. Over 100,000 Illegal Drive-Thru Votes Have Been Cast Harris County accounts for nearly 15 percent of all registered voters in Texas. To date, over 100,000 “drive-thru” votes have been cast. [App. F]. B. Hollins’ Drive-Thru Voting Scheme Violates the Fourteenth Amendment The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, "No State shall... deny to any person.., the equal protection of the laws." USCS Const. Amend. 14, § 1. Harris County is the only Texas County that has adopted drivethru voting. [App. A]. By using different criteria for voting and allowing a new form 19 of voting to occur in only in Harris County, Hollins is violating the Equal Protection Clause. Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000). Hollins violates the Equal Protection Clause, in that Harris County, unlike other counties, surrenders the safeguards associated with curb-side voting while other counties maintain the integrity of the ballot box by complying with the strict requirements imposed by the Texas Legislature in §§ 64.009, 82.02, and 104.001-104.005 of the Texas Election Code. The Supreme Court’s per curiam majority opinion in Bush v. Gore eviscerated the distinction between nuts-and-bolts questions and big picture questions by holding that Florida law, at least as construed by the Florida Supreme Court, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 531 U.S. 98 (2000). The Court held that a state violates equal protection when it fails to have uniform standards for the recounting of votes during a statewide election contest. Id. at 109. The opinion makes it clear that disparity regarding the means of voting is a justiciable question. Here, Hollins has implemented a form of voting that is unique to Harris County and differs from the remaining 253 counties in the state of Texas. II. Mandamus is Appropriate to Compel Compliance with a NonDiscretionary, Ministerial Duty. “A writ of mandamus will issue to compel a public official to perform a ministerial act.” Anderson v. Seven Points, 806 S.W.2d 791, 793 (Tex. 1991) (citing Womack v. Berry, 156 Tex. 44, 291 S.W.2d 677, 682 (1956); Turner v. Pruitt, 161 Tex. 532, 342 S.W.2d 422, 423 (1961)). “An act is ministerial when the law clearly 20 spells out the duty to be performed by the official with sufficient certainty that nothing is left to the exercise of discretion.” Anderson, 291 S.W.2d at 793. That is the case here. A. Respondent Hollins Has a Ministerial Duty to Review Each Sworn Application in Order to Verify that the Applicant Has Supplied All of the Required Information to Permit Curbside Voting. Because Section 64.009 of the Texas Election Code permits curbside voting under limited circumstances during Early Voting, Respondent Hollins’ duties as the Early Voting Clerk include the enforcement of curbside voting during Early Voting. In order to enable an eligible voter to legally vote curbside, the registered voter must submit a sworn application for ballot similar to the application for a ballot by mail described in Section 84.001 (Eligible voter must make an application for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail). The duty to review each application is not discretionary; it is mandatory. In re Robinson, 175 S.W.3d 824, 830 (Tex. App. 2005) (“The use of the word shall in a statute is generally construed as creating a nondiscretionary duty.”). This duty includes the specific obligation to ensure that each sworn application satisfies the criteria set forth in the Texas Election Code to permit a specific voter to vote curbside during both Early Voting and Election Day voting. B. Respondent Hollins Has a Ministerial Duty to Reject an Application for Curbside Voting That does No Contain the Required Information to Permit Curbside Voting. 21 Under Texas Election Code Sections 64.009, 82.02, and 104.001, curbside voting is restricted to three distinct categories: (i) a voter is presently sick at the time of the vote; (ii) a voter has a physical condition requiring personal assistance (e.g., is physically handicapped); or (iii) voting inside the polling location would create a likelihood of injuring the voter’s health. Respondent Hollins, however, has announced his policy to permit any registered Harris County voter to cast their ballot via drive-thru voting. This illegal policy, which is grounded on the dubious notion that a lack of immunity from COVID-19 justifies a wholesale repudiation of the Texas Election Code, has already been expressly rejected by the Texas Supreme Court. In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. 2020). Rejecting Respondent Hollins’ argument in that case that a voter’s lack of immunity from the disease and concern about contracting it a polling place justifies a voter’s choice to case a ballot by mail, the Supreme Court made clear that a generalized fear of contracting a virus would not, standing alone, be sufficient to trigger a statutory right to vote by mail. The Court’s reasoning in In re State, 602 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. 2020), applies Respondent’s allowing curbside voting for anyone who wants to vote curbside. The “disability” language contained in Section 82.002(a) regarding ballots by mail tracks the same language as is contained in Sections 64, 82, and 104 regarding curbside voting. Under Texas Election Code Sections 64.009, 82.02, and 104.001, curbside voting is restricted to three distinct categories: (i) a voter is presently sick at the time 22 of the vote; (ii) a voter has a physical condition requiring personal assistance (e.g., is physically handicapped); or (iii) voting inside the polling location would create a likelihood of injuring the voter’s health. It is abundantly clear that Respondent Hollins may not, consistent with his ministerial duties to comply with the Texas Election Code, permit registered Harris County voters to engage in drive-thru voting who do not satisfy one or more of the statutorily prescribed exceptions to voting inside the polling place. The obligation to reject insufficient applications to vote curbside is not discretionary; it is mandatory. See In re Robinson, 175 S.W.3d at 830. The duty to challenge ineligible curbside voting is not discretionary; it is mandatory. Id. III. Respondent Hollins is Permitting Curbside Voting to Voters Not Entitled to Vote Curbside in Breach of His Ministerial Duties under the Texas Election Code. Hollins is allowing curbside/drive-thru voting for all 2.37 million registered voters in Harris County. This is a clear and direct violation of his duties to enforce the Texas Election Code and the United States Constitution. Respondent Hollins has a non-discretionary, ministerial duty to limit curbside voting solely to those registered voters who submit facially valid sworn applications to vote curbside. All other requests to vote curbside must be denied. “Failure to perform his duty subjects [Respondent Hollins] to mandamus.” Bejarano v. Hunter, 899 S.W.2d 346, 350 (Tex. App. 1995). Absent an order compelling Respondent Hollins to comply with 23 his ministerial duties under the Texas Election Code, ineligible applicants and/or facially invalid sworn applications will be approved. IV. Relators Are Being Harmed, Have Standing, and Will Continue to be Harmed, Absent Relief. Respondent Hollins’ non-compliance with the law is harming the interests of Relators. With respect to Relator Hotze, he has standing because he is threatened with a violation of his right to vote. Relator Champion is the Republican nominee for the 18th District, Harris County, Texas. Hollins illegal vote scheme results in votes being illegally cast in his race for the United States Congress. Relator Hemphill is also on the November 3, 2020 general election ballot for District Judge in Harris County, Texas. Hollins illegal vote scheme results in votes being illegally cast in her race for the 80th Judicial District Court. Representative Steve Toth is a member of the Texas Legislature and is also on the November 3, 2020 general election ballot. As a member of the State Legislature, Hollins is usurping his authority as a lawmaker by creating a voting scheme that was not adopted by the Texas Legislature. “Undeniably the Constitution of the Untied States protects the right of all qualified citizens to vote, in state as well as in federal elections.” Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 554 (1964). This right “can neither be denied outright. . . nor destroyed by alteration of ballots. . . nor diluted by ballot-box stuffing.” Id. “The right to vote is ‘individual and personal in nature,’ and ‘voters who allege facts 24 showing disadvantage to themselves as individuals have standing to sue’ to remedy that disadvantage.” Gill v. Whitford, 138 S. Ct. 1916, 1920 (2018) (quoting Reynolds, 377 U.S. at 561 and Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 206 (1962)). Relators object to the casting and to the counting of any ineligible or illegal curbside voting, as the consequence of permitting such activity hurts not only the integrity and the reported outcomes of the election for all of the candidates and all of the voters who voted, but it could also dilute or otherwise diminish and cancel Relators casting of a legal vote for the candidates of their choice in the General Election. V. Relators Have No Other Adequate Remedy. Texas Election Code Section 273.081 allows “injunctive relief” to “prevent” violations from occurring. Relators seek injunctive relief prohibiting Respondent Hollins from engaging in his illegal “drive-thru” voting programs. Alternatively, Relators seek affirmative compliance with ministerial duties. Prayer For these reasons, Realtors respectfully request that the Court grant this Petition for Writ of Mandamus and enter an order compelling Respondent Hollins to do the following: 1. Relators request this Court to require all memory cards from the ten (10) drive-thru voting locations be secured and not entered or downloaded into 25 the Tally machine until this Court issues an order on Relators’ Petition for Writ of Mandamus. 2. Relators request the Court reject any votes it finds were cast in violation of the Texas Election Code. 3. Review all curbside voting applications submitted by an person requesting to vote curbside during either Early Voting or Election Day Voting in Harris County for facial compliance with Texas Election Code sections 64.009, 82.002, and 1104.001-104.005, as required by the Texas Election Code Sections 83.002 and 014.001; 4. Reject all curbside voting applications submitted by any person requesting to vote curbside during either Early Voting or Election Day Voting in Harris County which lack facial compliance with Texas Election Code Sections 64.009, 82.002, and 104.001-104.005, as required by the Texas Election Code Sections 83.002 and 104.001; and 5. Reject any curbside voting efforts during either Early Voting or Election Day Voting in Harris County which are not in compliance with Texas Election Code Sections 64.009, 82.002, and 104.001-104.004, as required by the Texas Election Code Sections 83.002 and 104.001. Dated: October 27, 2020 26 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Jared R. Woodfill J A R E D R. W O O D F I L L State Bar No. 00788715 Woodfill Law Firm, P.C. 3 Riverway, Suite 750 Houston, Texas 77056 P:(713) 751-3080 Fax: (713) 751-3058 woodfillservice@gmail.com Counsel for Relators 27 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE By affixing my signature above, I , Jared Woodfill, hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above Original Petition for Writ of Mandamus has been delivered via electronic mail to the parties below on the 27th day of October, 2020. /s/Jared Woodfill Jared Woodfill 28 TRAP 52.3(J) CERTIFICATION Pursuant to TRAP 52.3(j), the undersigned certifies that he has reviewed the above Petition for Writ of Mandamus and concluded that every factual statement in the petition is supported by competent evidence included in the appendix and or the record. /s/ Jared Woodfill Jared Woodfill 29 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE I, Jared Woodfill, Counsel for Relators certify that this document was generated by a computer using Microsoft Word which indicates that the word count of this document is 4,077. The typeset is Times New Roman 14 pt for text. /s/ Jared Woodfill Jared Woodfill 30 APPENDIX APP. A AFFIDAVIT OF ALAN VERA Alan Vera. appeared in person before me today and stated under oath : '"My name is Alan Vera. I am above the age of eighteen years and am folly competent to make this affidavit. The facts stated in this affidavit are \Vithin my personal kmnvledgc and arc true and '-'.orrecL "lam Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party Ballot Security Committee. "Respondent, Chris Hollins \vho is a Democrat and cmTently serves as Deputy Vice Chair of Finance for the Democratic Party of Texas has identified ten ( I 0) drive-through voting locations. Nine (9) of the ten ( 10) locations arc in heavily Democratic areas. "On Saturday October 3 L 2020. all the Judge's Booth Controllers ("JBC") from early vo1in!! ·\,viII be delivered to centrnl count at NRG. Seals ~ \Vin be broken and the memorv, cards ··· Mobile Ballot Box CMBB'') will be accessed to report the number of ballots contained in each MBB-not to tally the vote. ··on the morning: or November 3. 2020, the same MBB"s will be connected lo the Tally machine to download the actual ballots contained, and count votes for each candidate and issue on the ballots. During this process, the Tally machine will also the conduct the counting / tabulation process from the MBB's from the early voting drive-through vote centers .. ""Atler 7:00p.m. on November 3, 2020, Respondent will enter the MBB's from election day votes at drive-through locations into the Tally mnchinc to conduct the counting / tabulation of election day votes at drive-through locations. ·'Specifically, in drive-through voting, the voter never exits the vehicle. Instead, the voter sits in his/her car as ihc e-slatc is hand delivered to the voter who then cast his/her vote vvithin the confines of the vehicle. ""It should be noted that many votes are cast by numerous people in the car, eliminating confidentiality surrounding one's vote. The garages, tents, canopies, and other "coverings'' through which the car drives arc not actual polling locations -- the polling place is in the car. "'The c-slatc is physicaBy placed in the car, the vote is cast in the car, and the voter remains in the car. The voter never physically exits the car. '"To my knowledge, Harris County is the only county in Texas implementing drive-thrn voting. I am familiar wilh the voting process in many counties across the stale of Texas. FURTHER i\FFIANT SA'{ETH NOT. Alan Vera SIGNED under oath before me o&;/. 7 . 2020. APP. State of Texas County of Travis § § § BEFORE ME, the undersigned personally appeared Jennifer Anne Hall who, swore the following: 1. My name is Jennifer Anne Hall. I am over 18 years of age, of sound mind, and competent to make this affidavit.I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, and they are true and correct. 2. I am resident of Texas and Tarrant County. 3. I am the Organization Assistant for The Republican Party of Texas.. 4. We are committed to advancing limited government, lower taxes, less spending and individual liberty. Our specific goals are to grow the Republican Party by reaching new voters, advance the Platform, which is grounded in conservative principle, and to keep Texas prosperous and free. The Republican Party of Texas serves: To promote a conservative philosophy of government: By promoting conservative principles; and By providing the infrastructure through which those who share our conservative principles can get involved in the political process, run for and be elected to public office, and govern according to our principles when elected. 5. Chris Hollins currently serves as the County Clerk of Harris County, Texas. Under the Texas Election Code, Mr. Hollins serves as the Early Voting Clerk for Harris County and is responsible for administering curbside voting in compliance with Sections 64.009, 83.002 and 104.001-104.005 of the Texas Election Code, for both Early Voting and Election Day Voting. This Petition for Writ of Mandamus names Mr. Hollins as the Respondent. 6. On September 10, 2020, Chris Hollins held a press conference to announce his office's implementation of a countywide "drive-thru" voting program for every registered voter in Harris County. The Texas Election Code does not use the term "drive-thru" voting. Rather, the term "curbside" voting is used instead. It is clear, however, that Respondent Hollins is using these terms interchangeably. 7. I have personally watched and listened to the press conference. I can personally swear that a true and correct transcription of what Respondent Hollins said in a 33 second segment of that press conference appears verbatim below in Paragraph 8. Beginning at the 4-minute mark of his press conference, and continuing on to 4:33, Respondent Hollins said the following: 8. "Drive-thru voting is an option for all voters who would like to be able to vote from the safety and comfort of your vehicle. Drive-thru voting allows those who don't qualify to vote by mail to minimize your exposure to other voters and to election workers. While we hope to have short lines across the county, drive5 thru voters waiting in line will be able to wait in the comfort of your vehicle where you can listen to the radio or converse with loved ones until you are pointed to your drive-thru voting booth. We hope that Harris County voters will consider utilizing drive-thru voting." 9. In addition to Respondent Hollins' press conference, he also released a video on YouTube, which is also posted on the Harris County Clerk's Office website, just this past Friday, October 9, 2020. This video is entitled "Drive-Thru Voting in five steps." Nowhere in this demonstrative video of a voter voting curbside in his vehicle is there any discussion or caution or depiction about how a voter may determine his or her eligibility to vote curbside. Nor is there any mention or depiction that a voter desiring to vote curbside must fill out a sworn application to vote curbside. To the contrary, the clear impression of this video is that anyone and everyone may vote curbside in Harris County should they wish to do so. Finally, the video depicts curbside voting taking place outside of a polling location and that polling location is not inside of a building. Because Respondent Hollins is clearly requesting Hanis County registered voters to vote curbside without regard to whether they are eligible to vote curbside, and because of the very clear threat of imminent harm which will result from ineligible curbside voting taking place in violation of the Texas Election Code, Relator RPT brings this Mandamus Petition to mandate compliance by the Respondent with his clear and non-discretionary ministerial duties. 6 SIGNED this 12th day of October 2020. �l-JLl SUBSCRIBED and SWORN TO before me, the undersigned authority, on the 12th day of October, 2020. I/ Notary in and for the State of Texas 7 APP. l,t.e Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi'. X + X Ii harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabilities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I P II l,t.e 0 Type here to search Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi, X " n ~~ ~ m;0 IL 1 Ir. ~· 4:13 PM 1012012020 + CJ X i' harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabi lities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I II P Type here to search 0 m • • IL " ~~ ~ m;0 1 Ir. ~· 4:14PM 1012012020 ~ I l,t.e Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi'. X + X Ii harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters w ith Disabi lities only O pen to all voters Locations Al l polling sites Only 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I P II l,t.e 0 Type here to search Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi, X " n ~~ ~ m;0 IL 1 Ir. ~' 4:14 PM 1012012020 + CJ X i' harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters w ith Disabi lities only O pen to all vote rs Locations Al l polling sites Only 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I II P Type here to search 0 • •m " IL ~~ ~ m;0 0. ~'1 4:1sPM 1012012020 ~ I l,t.e Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi'. X + X Ii harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabilities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I P II l,t.e 0 Type here to search Drive Thru Voting - Election ◄•1 X " n ~~ ~ m;0 IL 1 Ir. ~' 4:16 PM 1012012020 + CJ X i' harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabi lities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I II P Type here to search 0 • •m " IL ~~ ~ m;0 1 Ir. ~' 4:16PM 1012012020 ~ I l,t.e Drive Thru Voting - Election Divi'. X + X Ii harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabilities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I P II l,t.e IL 0 Type here to search Drive Thru Voting - Election ◄•1 X n + CJ X i' harrisvotes.com/dtv ~ CHRIS HOLLINS ~ HOM E VOTING INFO EL ECT ION RESU LTS HARRIS COUNTY CLERK Eligibility Voters with Disabi lities only Open to all voters Locations All polling sites On ly 10 polling sites Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County I II P Type here to search 0 • II IL APP. KEN PA.XTO~ October 16, 2020 Dear Texas Elections Officials: So~e political subdivisions throughout Texas have expanded their use of "curbside" voting this election season to offer expansive "drive-thru,, voting to all registered oters. This letter serves as a notice and reminder that the Election Code provides curbside voting as an option only to those who meet a certain, narrow set of 1 criteria. Cu bside voting is not, as some have asserted contrary to Texas law, an option for any and all oters who simply wjsh to vote from the comfort of their cars when they are physically a~le to enter the polling place. The exas Election Code provides that" [eJach polling place shall be located inside a building.,, Tex. Elec. Code§ 43.031(b). The Code makes no provision for polling places located outqoors, in parking lots, or in parking structures. More specifically, the Code makes no p1 ovision for "drive-thru" voting centers at which any voter may cast a ballot from his or er vehicle regardless of physical condition. Thef: I ode does, however, provide a limited allowance for "curbside,, voting for those who ce certain barriers to entering established polling places. Specifically, an election offi ial may provide a ballot to a registered voter "at the polling place entrance or curb,, only i the voter is "physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance o likelihood of injuring the voter>s health.,, Tex. Elec. Code§ 64.009(a). But if a voter can nter the polling place on his or her own without a likelihood of injury, then it is unlawful r an election official to allow that voter to cast a ballot outside the pollin g place. Whili election officials should not ordinarily question a voter's good-faith rcpresentati n that the voter is physically unable to enter a polling place, officials should not actively ncourage voters to engage in unauthorized curbside voting when they fail to meet the re9uisite legal criteria. Fear of COVID-19 does not render a voter physically unable to ca~t a ballot inside a polling place without assistance. Accordingly, election officials shoJJd not advise voters that such fear qualifies them to cast a curbside ballot. '11 ... 1 11 111 . . j{,.,l~"i' \1,,l!l l1..·\1.-~ .. 112'lS • ,~1~1t{,,:1011 • H\\\\l·..:\;),,lll,1111..\ \.'ll\-1.tt_,, Ele tions must be held in compliance with these Election Code prov1s1ons. Encouragjng or facilitating election operations that violate these rules is unlawful and could result in le&al liability for political subdivisions and their officials . My office is committed to enforcin our State' s laws to ensure safe, free, and fair elections . 1 ;z~-c.lu-Ken Paxto Attorney G nera l of Texas APP. 0123123131 ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ 45678ÿ ÿ34 4ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ7 ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ &'()*+,'ÿ-(./0 123ÿ456778 =>?@A5A>A6ÿAB6ÿC8DD8E5FGÿC87ÿ9:1:ÿ;8:ÿ)&<&3 123ÿÿH@7I6D 9:1:ÿ;8:ÿ)&<& J:=:9:1:ÿ;8:ÿ)&<& Kÿ1HLLÿMNÿ1OÿO;MHMLO0 K;ÿKJM 76DIA5FGÿA8ÿP8A5FGÿ8>A@5Q6ÿ8CÿAB6ÿR8DD5FGÿRDIS6: ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ1OÿHMÿO;KJMO0ÿ1TÿM9OÿLO-H=LKMU(OÿN4ÿM9Oÿ=MKMOÿN4ÿMOVK=3 ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ=OJMHN;ÿ+:ÿÿMB6ÿB6IQ5FGÿA8ÿ=6SA58Fÿ'*:WW?@6SA58F@ÿ^I/+_ÿIFQÿ^6_ÿA8ÿ76IQÿI@ÿC8DD8E@3 ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ^I/+_ÿÿMB6ÿI>AB875A2ÿS8FQ>SA5FGÿAB6ÿ6D6SA58FÿYI2ÿR67Y5AÿI P8A67ÿEB8ÿ5@ÿIÿRI76FAÿ87ÿD6GIDÿG>I7Q5IFÿ8CÿIÿSB5DQÿEB8ÿ5@ÿC5P6ÿ26I7@ 8CÿIG6ÿ87ÿ28>FG67ÿIFQÿ5@ÿISS8YRIF56Qÿ?2ÿABIAÿSB5DQÿA8ÿP8A6ÿ5FÿAB6 @IY6ÿYIFF67ÿI@ÿIÿP8A67ÿ>FQ67ÿ=>?@6SA58Fÿ^I_: ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ^6_ÿÿMB6ÿ@6S76AI72ÿ8Cÿ@AIA6Xÿ5FÿS88R67IA58FÿE5ABÿS8>FA2 6D6SA58F@ÿIQY5F5@A7IA87@Xÿ@BIDDÿS8FQ>SAÿIÿ@A>Q2ÿA8ÿQ6A67Y5F6ÿAB6 ?6@AÿR7ISA5S6@ÿ5FÿS8FQ>SA5FGÿP8A5FGÿ>FQ67ÿ=>?@6SA58Fÿ^I/+_:ÿÿ;8A DIA67ÿABIFÿ06S6Y?67ÿ`+Xÿ)W)WXÿAB6ÿ@6S76AI72ÿ8Cÿ@AIA6ÿ@BIDDÿ76R87A AB6ÿ@A>Q2a@ÿC5FQ5FG@ÿA8ÿAB6ÿS8YY5AA66@ÿ8Cÿ6ISBÿB8>@6ÿ8CÿAB6 D6G5@DIA>76ÿE5ABÿb>75@Q5SA58Fÿ8P67ÿ6D6SA58F@:ÿÿMB5@ÿ@>?@6SA58F 6cR576@ÿ8Fÿ=6RA6Y?67ÿ+Xÿ)W)+: ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ=OJMHN;ÿ`:ÿÿMB6ÿB6IQ5FGÿA8ÿ=6SA58Fÿ&,:W`*XÿOD6SA58FÿJ8Q6Xÿ5@ IY6FQ6QÿA8ÿ76IQÿI@ÿC8DD8E@3 ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ=6S:ÿ&,:W`*:ÿÿZNMH;-ÿNUM=H0Oÿ[ZNMO(ÿU;K1LOÿMNÿO;MO(\ÿ]NLLH;]LKJOÿ4N(ÿJO(MKH;ÿZNMO(=: ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ=OJMHN;ÿ*:ÿÿMB5@ÿKSAÿAId6@ÿ6CC6SAÿ=6RA6Y?67ÿ+Xÿ)W+<: 22 ! !" 2 # 24572$ 2 2 134 4 ! 020 0123123131 *+,-.ÿ0+12.3-456+ÿ78328+ 45678ÿ 5 8 7 5ÿ 5ÿ ÿ ÿ 8 ÿ ÿ ÿ3 92.4:6; ÿ ÿ =233>ÿ?@ÿABCBÿ 0+12.3-42D+ÿE+..2:8>ÿBFGHI J:58K23ÿL:K5M+84>ÿBFHÿBBNBÿOHPQR TUVTWVXTYZÿ\ÿ]^_^à^bÿcdefÿgh^ÿiejk^ nopqrsstu Htvwxyopÿxrÿzrxyopÿr{xsyutÿr ÿx}tÿ~rvvyopÿ~vwt€ ‚ytqqr Rysw…yvyxyts†ÿ‡tqsrosÿˆyx}ÿG‰Š‹BŠI nvtxyrosQQŒuyoysxqwxyroÿG‰ŠANNI nvtxyrosQQOtotqwvÿG‰Š‹ŽŠI nHn‘ŒH’ÿ“‚ÿ‘Œ‘nÿG”ŠŠ•AI 9:5.+ÿJ:MM244++> nvtxyros E4-45.> “{xÿr ÿryxxtt m:4+> Œ–ts—Bÿÿÿ˜w–s—Žÿÿÿ‡qtstoxÿ˜rxÿ”rxyop—ŠÿÿÿŒ…stox—Š SK42:8.™ÿGutstouyopÿuwxtÿrqutqI ”ytˆyopÿ”rxts™ÿPrsxÿHttoxÿ?r{stÿ”rxt Rtsqy~xyro rtox Rwxt ÿÿÿÿÿÿ‘ytÿÿÿÿÿÿšr{qowvÿ‡wpt ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ŽNNA ÿÿHttyztuÿ qrÿx}tÿ?r{stÿ ?ÿÿHt~rqxtuÿtopqrsstuÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿŠ‹™•Aÿ‡Pÿ ‹•FB ?ÿÿxwxttoxGsIÿr ÿzrxtÿqtrqutuÿyoÿšr{qowvÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹AŽ‹ ?ÿÿHtrquÿzrxtÿ ÿH”ŽŽ•›ÿÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹AŽ‹ ?ÿÿ‡wsstuÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹AŽ‹ ?ÿÿHtwuÿ‹quÿxytÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠBœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹AŽA ?ÿÿ˜roqtrquÿzrxtÿqtrqutuÿyoÿšr{qowvÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠNœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹Ž•N ?ÿÿ‡wsstuÿxrÿtopqrsstoxÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠNœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹Ž•F ?ÿÿHtwuÿAouÿxytÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠNœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ‹Ž•F ?ÿÿ‡vwtuÿroÿOtotqwvÿxwxtÿwvtouwqÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠFœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿrosyutqtuÿyoÿwvtouwqsÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠ‹œAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿryxxttÿqt~rqxÿstoxÿxrÿwvtouwqsÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ›œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿryxxttÿqt~rqxÿuysxqy…{xtuÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œ‹ŠœAŠŽCÿÿŠN™•Bÿ‡Pÿ ?ÿÿrxtÿqt~rqxÿ yvtuÿˆyx}ÿryxxttÿrrquyowxrqÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œ‹ŠœAŠŽCÿÿÿ AF•› ?ÿÿHt~rqxtuÿ wzrqw…v–ÿwsÿs{…sxyx{xtuÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œA›œAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿryxxttÿs{…sxyx{xtÿrosyutqtuÿyoÿryxxttÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œA›œAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿrosyutqtuÿyoÿ rqwvÿttxyopÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œA›œAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿžt xÿ~touyopÿyoÿryxxttÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿ‘tsxyro–ÿxwŸtoœqtpysxqwxyroGsIÿqtrqutuÿyoÿryxxttÿÿÿ ÿŠ•œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿryxxttÿs{…sxyx{xtÿrosyutqtuÿyoÿryxxttÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿrosyutqtuÿyoÿ~{…vyÿ}twqyopÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿ}tu{vtuÿ rqÿ~{…vyÿ}twqyopÿroÿ€ÿ€ÿ€ÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ•œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ ?ÿÿHt tqqtuÿxrÿnvtxyrosÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ‹œŽAœAŠŽCÿÿŽA™ŠNÿ‡Pÿ FBA ?ÿÿHtwuÿ yqsxÿxytÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ‹œŽAœAŠŽCÿÿÿ FBA ?ÿÿ‚yvtuÿ ÿÿ ÿŠ‹œŠŽœAŠŽCÿÿÿ 0-.4ÿSK42:8> J-l42:8ÿm+6.2:8> J-l42:8ÿ*+,4> S54:6> E5ƒ„+K4.> 8!22"7 # 5678# $2 % 2 8 #786& 5 '588( ) ( 3 020 APP. DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location County Attorney Conference Center HCPL Barbara Bush Branch Fairfield Inn and Suites Houston NW Willowbrook Lakewood Residents Club ISGH Champions Community Center Prairie View A&M University Northwest Lake Houston Church of Christ Victory Houston Kingwood Community Center Coady Baptist Church La Porte Recreation and Fitness Center San Jacinto Community Center East Harris County Activity Center Crosby Community Center El Franco Lee Community Center  Clear Lake Islamic Center MultiCultural Center Pipers Meadow Community Center Harris County Scarsdale Annex University of Houston Clear Lake  Webster Civic Center Forest Bend Homeowners Association Inc Juergens Hall Community Center Hockley Community Center Saint John Lutheran Church and School Tomball Public Works Building Hiram Clarke Multi Service Center Alief Regional Library Kingdom Builders Center The Power Center Raindrop Turkish House Lakeland Activity Center James E Taylor High School Katy Branch Harris County Public Library Lone Star College Cypress Center SRD SRD001C SRD126C SRD126F SRD126L SRD126M SRD126P SRD127H SRD127V SRD127Y SRD128B SRD128F SRD128J SRD128P SRD128Z SRD129E SRD129I SRD129M SRD129P SRD129S SRD129U SRD129W SRD129X SRD130C SRD130H SRD130S SRD130T SRD131 SRD131I SRD131K SRD131P SRD131R SRD132A SRD132J SRD132K SRD132L Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 13 950 1022 981 1160 1207 966 2293 438 1623 768 1256 503 1890 1139 1075 1254 413 761 1237 1534 858 766 1305 800 1569 1258 1376 753 366 1052 1036 979 1402 758 1226 Oct. 14 664 992 982 1169 1391 968 2283 448 1784 742 1150 366 1939 1164 1039 1114 280 589 1217 1115 672 708 1110 857 1454 1274 1081 719 122 760 811 1250 1554 793 1285 Page 1 of 8 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Oct. 15 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 524 374 139 86 222 247 1084 1107 901 446 1053 1095 868 1023 501 308 548 555 1150 1284 805 495 1011 945 1337 1355 775 437 847 813 1015 1059 1006 504 1131 1071 2129 2169 1118 546 1434 1274 315 307 244 114 251 255 1895 2003 1764 1010 1873 1843 626 678 359 205 436 453 1007 1016 536 321 698 576 343 284 152 67 187 145 1961 2028 1112 570 1474 1397 1078 1040 518 318 853 763 869 847 463 288 554 514 905 886 379 189 504 496 268 256 120 86 146 102 475 508 180 134 278 307 1171 1225 835 391 972 892 1227 1357 690 394 871 764 602 591 289 155 388 349 673 631 296 158 442 351 1356 1477 1396 766 719 770 919 930 421 220 540 580 1450 1498 1132 595 1235 1247 1245 1251 798 390 1055 916 907 768 580 278 601 439 697 723 740 387 727 714 118 365 85 42 94 53 583 650 371 173 395 359 714 603 450 218 505 432 1128 1195 780 441 869 791 1336 1412 833 415 820 795 881 877 791 379 819 796 1240 1311 994 504 1152 1025 Oct. 21 204 987 457 816 726 1008 1057 189 1774 355 485 118 1114 554 454 440 108 212 768 674 313 352 1266 434 1126 843 481 696 40 342 420 684 692 747 890 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Harris County MUD 81 Building John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center Morton Ranch High School Nottingham Park Building Masjid El Farooq Unity of Houston Annex First Congregational Church Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria Hampton Inn Galleria Hampton Inn and Suites Metropolitan MultiService Center Rice University  John P McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons HCC West Loop South City Jersey Village Municipal Government Center Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center Bayland Park Community Center Houston Community College Alief Hayes Campus Tracy Gee Community Center ISGH Bear Creek Community Center John Knox Presbyterian Church Katherine Tyra Branch Library Trini Mendenhall Community Center Encourager Church Acres Homes Multi Service Center Fallbrook Church New Destiny Praise and Worship Center Lone Star College Victory Center Hardy Street Senior Citizens Center BakerRipley East Aldine Campus Anclamars W Reception Hall A Church of Christ on Bammel Road Northeast Multi Service Center Green House International Church Holiday Inn Houston Intercontinental Airport Hotel SRD SRD132M SRD132P SRD132S SRD133 SRD133C SRD133U SRD133Z SRD134C SRD134G SRD134I SRD134M SRD134R SRD134T SRD134W SRD135 SRD135W SRD137B SRD137C SRD137T SRD138I SRD138J SRD138K SRD138S SRD138Z SRD139A SRD139F SRD139N SRD139V SRD140 SRD140B SRD140X SRD141B SRD141C SRD141G SRD141I Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 13 997 688 1529 1292 512 879 1018 835 983 919 2356 961 1638 1511 2226 1964 1612 918 1669 1373 923 881 1966 1060 1925 1422 653 1013 873 471 636 942 873 558 842 Oct. 14 1032 681 1404 1255 525 784 1145 795 992 756 2238 968 1487 1055 2044 2051 1538 857 1421 1235 843 879 1976 1170 1342 986 616 843 584 336 330 941 802 415 762 Page 2 of 8 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Oct. 15 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 1062 1084 256 269 707 680 688 814 318 184 305 284 1336 1282 814 468 773 764 1153 1221 1036 539 1166 1087 511 540 241 120 273 258 678 750 369 216 487 460 1033 904 533 293 777 791 651 588 212 124 294 347 963 1045 545 331 810 725 586 650 283 166 412 345 2315 2280 1345 638 1680 1525 1054 1117 754 456 785 827 1221 987 427 296 575 535 1208 1334 523 288 706 620 1925 1973 1239 651 1541 1485 2074 2200 1817 904 2007 1894 1469 1445 913 428 1026 1063 865 892 594 337 676 638 1243 1215 653 344 785 857 1209 1401 744 441 574 731 796 821 494 217 593 564 819 862 766 391 767 710 1775 1790 1004 493 1317 1183 1154 1291 537 246 735 767 1055 891 618 300 661 512 603 788 305 148 466 304 491 437 285 127 303 318 774 797 654 331 600 519 451 410 266 130 303 257 271 250 153 85 238 189 220 170 117 42 112 140 857 810 285 145 427 395 635 428 335 166 387 271 338 229 185 86 220 199 640 500 226 119 282 248 Oct. 21 627 251 607 1005 215 486 705 231 690 351 1418 768 429 511 1277 1664 977 570 687 636 558 696 1102 637 491 275 239 416 266 166 104 289 266 157 221 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Lone Star College North Harris HCC North Forest Campus Humble Civic Center C E King Middle School Houston Food Bank Kashmere MultiService Center North Channel Branch Library Martin Flukinger Community Center Alvin D Baggett Community Center Milton Lusk Activity Center Neighborhood Centers Inc Ripley House Campus Harris County Cultural Arts Center  Lee College John Phelps Courthouse Iglesia Una Luz en Tu Camino HCC Southeast College Building C Parking Garage Baker Ripley Cleveland Ripley Neighborhood Center Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church NRG Arena Sunnyside Multi Service Center J J Roberson Family Life Center Toyota Center West End Multi Service Center Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Texas Southern University‐ West Side Parking Garage University of Houston Student Center South Shrine of The Black Madonna Cultural & Event Center Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel Clark Park Community Center The Grand Tuscany Hotel Moody Park Community Center SPJST Lodge Num 88 Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Houston Community College Alief Center SRD SRD141L SRD141N SRD141U SRD142C SRD142H SRD142K SRD142W SRD142Z SRD143A SRD143C SRD143R SRD143T SRD144 SRD144J SRD144U SRD145C SRD145R SRD146C SRD146N SRD146S SRD146Y SRD147C SRD147E SRD147M SRD147S SRD147T SRD147U SRD147Z SRD148B SRD148C SRD148H SRD148M SRD148S SRD148Z SRD149H Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 13 725 794 1312 868 186 1036 663 805 668 394 1161 1165 1337 744 189 1313 1173 798 831 1266 744 550 1413 514 1307 797 686 1027 954 309 1050 974 1506 1166 760 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Oct. 14 Oct. 15 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 628 501 484 337 203 398 383 652 530 351 263 163 281 273 1241 1353 1147 1081 551 1221 1042 699 520 558 327 145 330 302 94 81 150 33 18 67 27 886 665 459 346 199 427 321 663 662 698 588 286 638 583 631 442 410 176 70 194 170 405 308 288 178 80 158 131 303 249 228 146 84 152 145 813 682 701 407 172 469 411 928 679 541 292 124 404 291 1099 1024 1008 557 295 673 544 499 414 306 128 77 209 144 151 105 137 86 32 93 93 830 679 743 559 284 541 474 983 840 878 462 257 541 568 556 535 392 307 88 296 218 558 405 429 322 138 383 251 1224 958 748 574 247 669 504 364 241 168 108 55 126 100 351 334 193 222 101 126 155 1305 994 1105 415 233 550 609 373 310 254 174 81 182 211 530 357 317 160 83 202 170 459 295 280 174 68 172 167 513 439 392 176 73 250 239 572 449 363 192 77 219 215 844 680 747 259 119 356 366 236 185 183 157 65 145 122 803 746 716 374 224 436 465 1027 828 801 431 204 504 483 1546 1454 1613 574 326 935 856 937 593 839 279 117 421 255 630 527 602 360 176 515 383 Page 3 of 8 Oct. 21 365 238 1019 270 70 270 550 137 116 126 424 238 494 176 97 426 455 231 197 487 81 115 448 163 168 147 211 182 344 139 357 475 790 287 343 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Mission Bend Islamic Center Big Stone Lodge Klein Multipurpose Center Lone Star College Creekside Samuel Matthews Park Community Center Spring First Church Hosanna Lutheran Church Kingdom Builders Center HCC West Loop South Fallbrook Church Humble Civic Center Houston Food Bank John Phelps Courthouse NRG Arena Toyota Center Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Houston Community College Alief Center Early In Person Voters: Mail Ballots Returned: Total Early Voters: Ballots Mailed: SRD Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 13 SRD149X 666 SRD150B 866 SRD150K 1003 SRD150L 1348 SRD150M 584 SRD150S 1786 SRD150X 813 DTV131K 825 DTV134W 1294 DTV139F 1384 DTV141U 1522 DTV142H 376 DTV145C 653 DTV146N 1904 DTV147C 1140 DTV148Z 825 DTV149H 1120 128,186 41,337 169,523 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Oct. 14 Oct. 15 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 593 532 500 351 220 839 870 783 510 299 1043 1036 1184 1055 640 1269 1261 1381 718 409 646 618 663 218 115 1620 1482 1782 950 504 729 537 489 250 110 641 575 0 398 185 1420 1450 1610 1078 621 1504 1481 1087 1360 652 1824 1776 1805 1137 662 319 251 88 169 79 610 538 641 421 192 1780 1709 1676 1198 583 1131 907 1123 638 310 808 893 940 584 317 953 976 605 823 534 114,996 105,175 104,870 65,481 34,496 3,012 6,260 7,839 8,807 8,249 118,008 111,435 112,709 74,288 42,745 238,062 Page 4 of 8 962 954 1,585 885 1,175 Oct. 19 386 558 1196 996 343 1140 303 259 956 1052 1048 98 438 843 687 475 491 74,026 17,106 91,132 Oct. 20 334 509 1158 933 270 1118 308 283 1107 1059 952 101 406 1020 622 540 744 69,751 12,216 81,967 Oct. 21 280 501 1083 781 224 995 273 267 1032 853 798 88 303 866 510 521 566 62,391 10,097 72,488 736 737 820 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location County Attorney Conference Center HCPL Barbara Bush Branch Fairfield Inn and Suites Houston NW Willowbrook Lakewood Residents Club ISGH Champions Community Center Prairie View A&M University Northwest Lake Houston Church of Christ Victory Houston Kingwood Community Center Coady Baptist Church La Porte Recreation and Fitness Center San Jacinto Community Center East Harris County Activity Center Crosby Community Center El Franco Lee Community Center  Clear Lake Islamic Center MultiCultural Center Pipers Meadow Community Center Harris County Scarsdale Annex University of Houston Clear Lake  Webster Civic Center Forest Bend Homeowners Association Inc Juergens Hall Community Center Hockley Community Center Saint John Lutheran Church and School Tomball Public Works Building Hiram Clarke Multi Service Center Alief Regional Library Kingdom Builders Center The Power Center Raindrop Turkish House Lakeland Activity Center James E Taylor High School Katy Branch Harris County Public Library Lone Star College Cypress Center Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 232 176 57 39 139 885 980 538 406 786 416 486 215 243 403 756 790 386 345 642 578 651 371 262 473 839 943 591 496 837 948 994 502 354 747 170 210 102 131 281 1548 1572 939 622 1238 285 399 195 159 374 427 515 253 187 448 125 137 56 43 107 1070 1271 556 407 992 477 553 300 231 475 407 497 256 240 407 377 447 318 127 299 82 153 57 65 88 235 287 140 110 249 754 747 453 328 713 648 865 421 241 555 318 368 133 131 303 295 353 177 142 271 1227 1327 958 616 1151 317 400 181 128 278 965 1136 598 457 818 694 804 503 211 642 377 412 303 183 431 640 616 586 320 629 48 87 47 15 50 250 303 199 129 301 347 409 254 174 350 580 752 340 327 435 660 839 467 333 571 606 722 449 293 578 833 900 608 447 822 Page 5 of 8 Oct. 28 Friday Totals Oct. 29 Oct. 30 4,053 12,282 7,986 11,754 11,223 12,434 17,848 3,455 21,488 6,034 8,875 2,633 17,781 9,463 7,910 7,735 2,224 4,465 11,703 11,356 5,470 5,615 15,444 7,005 15,280 11,884 8,217 8,947 1,532 5,867 6,723 10,551 12,129 9,489 13,237 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Harris County MUD 81 Building John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center Morton Ranch High School Nottingham Park Building Masjid El Farooq Unity of Houston Annex First Congregational Church Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria Hampton Inn Galleria Hampton Inn and Suites Metropolitan MultiService Center Rice University  John P McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons HCC West Loop South City Jersey Village Municipal Government Center Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center Bayland Park Community Center Houston Community College Alief Hayes Campus Tracy Gee Community Center ISGH Bear Creek Community Center John Knox Presbyterian Church Katherine Tyra Branch Library Trini Mendenhall Community Center Encourager Church Acres Homes Multi Service Center Fallbrook Church New Destiny Praise and Worship Center Lone Star College Victory Center Hardy Street Senior Citizens Center BakerRipley East Aldine Campus Anclamars W Reception Hall A Church of Christ on Bammel Road Northeast Multi Service Center Green House International Church Holiday Inn Houston Intercontinental Airport Hotel Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 563 597 297 206 470 172 227 146 128 164 493 710 465 381 467 915 999 598 386 845 203 252 253 77 131 374 469 211 201 461 548 633 299 150 548 236 237 97 64 198 565 635 265 250 506 305 400 138 113 214 1214 1415 652 452 974 782 568 512 359 606 441 477 168 167 314 493 569 376 206 366 1135 1182 700 526 900 1508 1712 1166 884 1375 754 887 606 338 772 553 659 617 273 405 653 615 333 216 603 479 545 342 329 486 485 520 284 201 473 653 715 502 349 649 892 1002 506 415 767 465 669 247 170 460 337 446 253 224 392 191 318 245 88 173 215 187 180 124 263 361 441 318 250 421 251 287 173 113 305 151 193 95 109 190 97 107 53 63 151 281 279 163 67 224 261 232 171 121 236 173 150 108 82 185 187 241 87 90 176 Page 6 of 8 Oct. 28 Friday Totals Oct. 29 Oct. 30 8,847 5,050 11,493 13,497 4,111 6,825 9,377 4,909 9,305 5,638 20,502 10,517 9,162 9,766 18,804 23,220 13,828 8,854 11,294 10,525 7,772 9,639 16,188 9,608 9,447 6,312 4,438 7,738 4,669 2,897 2,342 6,105 5,184 3,085 4,621 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Lone Star College North Harris HCC North Forest Campus Humble Civic Center C E King Middle School Houston Food Bank Kashmere MultiService Center North Channel Branch Library Martin Flukinger Community Center Alvin D Baggett Community Center Milton Lusk Activity Center Neighborhood Centers Inc Ripley House Campus Harris County Cultural Arts Center  Lee College John Phelps Courthouse Iglesia Una Luz en Tu Camino HCC Southeast College Building C Parking Garage Baker Ripley Cleveland Ripley Neighborhood Center Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church NRG Arena Sunnyside Multi Service Center J J Roberson Family Life Center Toyota Center West End Multi Service Center Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Texas Southern University‐ West Side Parking Garage University of Houston Student Center South Shrine of The Black Madonna Cultural & Event Center Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel Clark Park Community Center The Grand Tuscany Hotel Moody Park Community Center SPJST Lodge Num 88 Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Houston Community College Alief Center Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 312 299 178 216 290 204 180 99 102 206 796 1033 807 400 829 199 291 150 123 257 29 42 30 13 37 250 238 167 128 307 522 592 440 273 509 115 119 54 51 113 98 108 82 37 105 115 131 97 73 158 344 403 218 161 368 193 221 187 101 259 459 525 318 241 546 137 198 129 54 160 84 85 59 32 85 393 458 294 225 447 418 573 296 257 556 193 196 138 84 170 230 286 163 87 208 376 358 335 172 393 86 61 34 30 92 98 138 162 70 107 407 548 247 181 377 147 191 108 103 190 134 142 99 40 123 104 93 100 36 128 196 225 89 54 165 155 199 90 63 165 332 406 180 99 247 139 139 69 80 129 368 364 209 164 305 419 453 306 208 443 652 832 341 218 568 194 280 213 104 160 276 330 232 106 274 Page 7 of 8 Oct. 28 Friday Totals Oct. 29 Oct. 30 5,319 4,336 13,832 5,039 877 5,699 7,667 3,487 2,762 2,401 6,734 5,623 9,120 3,375 1,328 7,666 8,257 4,202 4,488 8,311 2,290 2,722 8,832 3,001 3,832 3,020 3,708 3,968 5,933 2,097 6,581 7,556 12,211 5,845 5,514 DAILY RECORD OF EARLY VOTING ‐ UNOFFICIAL TOTALS November 3, 2020 General and Special Elections Location Mission Bend Islamic Center Big Stone Lodge Klein Multipurpose Center Lone Star College Creekside Samuel Matthews Park Community Center Spring First Church Hosanna Lutheran Church Kingdom Builders Center HCC West Loop South Fallbrook Church Humble Civic Center Houston Food Bank John Phelps Courthouse NRG Arena Toyota Center Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Houston Community College Alief Center Early In Person Voters: Mail Ballots Returned: Total Early Voters: Ballots Mailed: Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 272 285 178 159 280 422 411 452 218 392 940 1015 680 558 955 758 859 382 325 651 192 259 108 106 178 892 981 536 328 813 246 261 146 105 249 195 201 249 142 222 807 865 774 485 787 830 494 1058 482 939 787 519 762 475 813 106 94 127 62 103 383 462 383 236 444 700 836 684 265 732 376 573 398 253 447 439 509 406 197 432 522 456 551 362 529 54,843 61,493 38,729 26,258 52,195 21,928 8,326 4,013 560 6,407 76,771 69,819 42,742 26,818 58,602 1,518 1,048 Page 8 of 8 0 1,166 90 Oct. 28 Friday Totals Oct. 29 Oct. 30 5,036 7,630 13,546 12,071 4,524 14,927 4,819 4,442 14,286 14,235 14,880 2,061 6,110 14,796 9,115 7,886 9,232 992,890 156,157 1,149,047 249,738 APP. State of Texas County of Harris BEFORE ME, the undersigned personally appeared Keith Nielsen who swore the following: 1. My name is Keith Nielsen. lam over 18 years of age, of sound mind. and competent to make this affidavit. I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, and they are true and correct. 2. I am a resident of Texas and Harris County. 3. I am the duly elected Chairman of the Han-is County Republican Patty. 4. The Harris Cow1ty Republican Party is committed to advancing limited government, lower taxes, less spending and individual libe1ty. Our specific goals are to grow the Republican Party by reaching new voters, advance the Platfonn, which is grounded in conservative principle, and to keep Texas prosperous and free. The Harris County Republican Party serves: To promote a conservative philosophy of government: By promoting conservative principles; and By providing the infrastructure through which those who share our conservative principles can get involved in the political process, run for and be elected to public office, and govern according to our principles when elected. 5 Chris Hollins cun-ently serves as the County Clerk of Harris County, Texas. Under tbe Texas Election Code, Mr. Hollins serves as the Early Voting Clerk for Han-is County and is responsible for administering curbside voting in compliance with Sections 64.009, 83.002 and 104.001 -104-005 of the Texas Election Code, for both the Early Voting and Election Day Voting. This Petition for Writ of Mandanms names Mr. Hollins as the Respondent. 6. Beginning October 14, 2020, respondent Hollins began allowing voters to use the following drive-thru locations. Kingdom Builders Center, 6011 West Orem Drive HCC West Loop South, 5601 West Loop South Fallbrook Church, 12512 Walters Road Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway Houston Food Bank, 535 Potwall Street 1 Jolm Phelps Courthouse, 101 South Richey Street NRG Arena, 1 NRG Parkway Toyota Center, 1510 Polk Street Resunection Metropolitan Commw1ity Church, 2025 West 11 th Street Houston Community College Alief Center, 13803 Bissormet Street 7. On September 10, 2020, Chris Hollins held a press conference to announce his office' s implementation of countywide "dJ:ive-thru" voting program for every registered voter in Han-is County. The Texas Election Code does not use the term "drive-thru" voting. Rather the term curbside" voting is used instead. It is clear, however, that Respondent Hollins is using these terms interchangeably. 8. I have personally watched and listened to the press conference. I can personally swear that a true and correct transcript of what the Respondent Hollins in a 33 second segment of that press conference appears verbatim in Paragraph 8. Beginning at the 4-minute mark of his press conferem:e, and continuing on to 4.33, Respondent Hollins said the following: 9. "Drive-thru" voting is an option for all voters who would like lo be able to vote from the safety and comfo1t of your vehicle. Drive-thru voting allows those who don't qualify to vote by mail to minimize your exposure to other voters and election workers. While we hope to have short lines across the county, drive thru voters waiting in lines will be able to wait in the comfort of your vehicle where you can listen to the radio or converse with loved ones until you are pointed to your drive-thru waiting booth. 10. In addition to respondent Hollins' press conference, he also released a video on YouTube, which is also posted on the Harris County Clerk's Office \.Vebsite, just this past Friday, October 9, 2020. This video is entitled "Drive-Thru Voting in five steps." Nowhere in this demonstrative video of a voter voting curbside in his vehicle is there any discussion or caution or depiction about how a voter may dete1mine his or her eligibility to vote curbside. Nor is there any mention or depiction that a voter desiring to vote curbside must fill out a sworn application to vote curbside. To the contrary, the clear impression of the video is that anyone and everyone may vote curbside in Harris County should they wish to do so. Finally, the video depicts curbside voting taking place outside of a polling location and that polling location is not inside a building. Because Respondent Hollins is clearly requesting Harris County registered voters to vote curbside without 2 regard to whether they are eligible to vote curbside, and because of a very clear threat of imminent harm which will result from the ineligible curbside voting taking place in violation of the Texai; Election Code, Relator Han-is County Republican Chairman brings this Mandamus Petition to mandate compliance by the Respondent with this clear and non-discretionary ministerial duties. Sim SUBSCRIBED and SWORN TO before me, the un 2020. 3 of October 2020 · uthority, on the 14th day of October fawv? vaAW-vw-u .f mm4m;.: 3 1M 0mm ?Max was warm Mr Awfw "5.5 Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system. The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below: Jared Woodfill on behalf of Jared Woodfill Bar No. 00788715 woodfillservice@gmail.com Envelope ID: 47581770 Status as of 10/28/2020 7:37 AM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Jared Woodfill woodfillservice@gmail.com 10/27/2020 10:48:07 PM SENT Vince Ryan vince.ryan@cao.hctx.net 10/27/2020 10:48:07 PM SENT Cameron Hatzel cameron.hatzel@cao.hctx.net 10/27/2020 10:48:07 PM SENT Susan Hays hayslaw@me.com 10/27/2020 10:48:07 PM SENT