Texas Secretary of State John Scott issued the following statement Jan. 14 after the Travis County Clerk’s office announced Jan. 13 that it had rejected an unusually large percentage of applications for a ballot by mail for the March 1 Primary Election:
“We were surprised to learn for the first time of the apparent wholesale rejection of mail ballot applications by Travis County. Our office’s role to each county, including Travis County, is to be available to provide advice and assistance on implementation of Texas election law upon request. Nevertheless, Travis County made the decision to reject these mail ballot applications before contacting our office. We call on Travis County to immediately review and re-examine the mail ballot applications in question to determine whether they were processed in accordance with state law, with the goal of reinstating and minimizing any disruption to eligible voters who have properly submitted their application for ballot by mail.”
“We urge all county election officials to contact the Texas Secretary of State’s office to seek advice and assistance on the correct method of processing mail ballot applications.”
Under Texas law, you are only eligible to vote by mail if you are:
• 65 years or older;
• Sick or disabled;
• Out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance;
• Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day; or
• Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
