TEXAS REPUBLICANS LOSE BID TO REJECT 127,000 DRIVE-THROUGH BALLOTS

A federal judge in Texas denied an attempt by Republicans to throw out about 127,000 votes already cast in the US presidential election at drive-through voting sites in Houston, a Democratic-leaning area.

The plaintiffs had accused Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, a Democrat, of acting illegally when he allowed drive-through voting as an alternative during the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Hiller and Jan Wolfe reported for Reuters early on November 3, 2020.

US District Judge Andrew Hanen said the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the case. “I find that when you balance the harms you’ve got to weigh in favor of counting the votes,” he added. Hollins told reporters that drive-through voting sites in Harris County, which includes Houston, would be open on Election Day as scheduled. “This is a huge win for democracy, especially at a time when it appears that democracy itself is on the ballot,” Hollins said.

The judge also faulted the plaintiffs for waiting until Oct. 28 to file their case in his court even though drive-through voting was used without challenge in July primary runoffs. “Didn’t we test this in the primaries this summer?,” Hanen said during a three-hour hearing, adding: “Why am I just getting this case?”