Elections

Harris County begins voting equipment tests for November 2023 elections

Posted on · The Houston mayoral and city council elections will be the first major test of how Harris County conducts elections since a state law abolished the county’s elections administrator’s office and returned its powers to the county clerk and county tax assessor-collector.

John Whitmire

Politics

John Whitmire’s plan to bring DPS troopers to Houston has yielded mixed results in Austin and Dallas

Posted on · State Senator John Whitmire wants to bring 200 DPS troopers to Houston to aid local police if he’s elected mayor. Local officials in Austin and Dallas say DPS deployments in those cities led to racially targeted traffic stops and arrests.

Elections

Harris County leaders dismantle Elections Administrator’s Office

Posted on · Under Senate Bill 1750, the county clerk will take over management of elections, while the county tax assessor-collector will take charge of maintaining the county’s voter rolls.

Elections

Texas Supreme Court says Harris County must abolish its elections administrator’s office by September 1

Posted on · The state’s top civil court will still hear a challenge to Senate Bill 1750 on November 28. But Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said that, once dismantled, the elections administrator’s office isn’t likely to be restored.

Ben Taub front view of building

Medicine & Wellness

County commissioners vote to put $2.5 billion bond proposal for Harris Health System on November ballot

Posted on · LBJ and Ben Taub hospitals are operating at or above capacity and have not had significant upgrades in about 30 years, according to county officials, while Harris County’s population has nearly doubled during that span.

Elections

Judge temporarily blocks law abolishing Harris County elections administrator’s office; Texas AG files appeal

Posted on · Senate Bill 1750 was set to take effect September 1. It would require the county to get rid of its appointed elections administrator and shift the office’s functions back to the elected county clerk and county tax assessor-collector.