Texas Harris County Polling Hours Extension

Petition filed by the Texas Organizing Project requesting that the Harris County District Court allow 12 polling locations to remain open until 8 p.m. CST, which is one hour later than they would normally remain open. The petitioner filed this emergency petition after learning that said polling places failed to open on time at 7 a.m. CST as required by Texas law. The petition notes that all 12 locations “opened more than one hour late, and, in at least one instance, for over three hours, and many of the locations have continued to experience machine malfunctions causing delays and temporary closure.” During a hearing, the court granted the petitioner’s request and extended the hours for all polling locations until 8 p.m. CST. On Nov. 8, the same day the petition was filed, the court granted the petitioners’ request.

Following this decision, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed in the Texas Supreme Court asking it to reverse the order extending Harris County’s polling hours. The Texas Supreme Court stayed (meaning paused) the trial court’s order and ordered that “Later cast votes should be segregated.”

On July 21, 2023, the Texas Supreme Court dismissed the case as moot.

Last updated: July 24, 2023 3:14 pm EST