Travis County Readies Legal and Law-Enforcement Plans for the November Election
County officials say they expect voting to proceed smoothly, but they are preparing for possible federal interference and other disruptions, and they urge voters to rely on official sources for election information.
Travis County officials say they are preparing for possible disruptions to November's midterm elections, including federal actions that could interfere with voting or with the counting and certification of ballots. Local officials stress that they expect the election to run smoothly, and they are urging residents to participate.
District Attorney Jose Garza said the county has thought through potential scenarios and is prepared. Sheriff Sally Hernandez said her office recently hosted a workshop for local law enforcement on election integrity and security, and said officials do not anticipate issues of any kind but prepare for every possibility, according to The Austin Focal's reporting.
Travis County has already joined two lawsuits challenging federal actions related to elections. In August, the county clerk's office joined a case contesting an executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service to refuse to deliver mail ballots in states that did not provide certain voter information. The county also joined a lawsuit after the administration threatened to withhold about $667,000 in counterterrorism funding unless the county adopted paper ballots and citizenship checks for voters.
Garza urged Travis County residents to get election details directly from local officials. He said the county expects early voting and Election Day to be smooth and free of interference, and he encouraged voters to take part regardless of their political preference. Early voting in Travis County runs through Friday, October 30, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
