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Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. She has covered a range of topics as a community journalist including local government, public safety, immigration and social issues. Natalia previously reported for the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on impacts of government policies on communities of color. Natalia previously worked at the Indianapolis Star, where she helped launch the first Spanish-language newsletter, and at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas in Mexico and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is based in Corpus Christi.
Election administrators say letting people cast a ballot at any polling site is more convenient for voters and cheaper for local governments. Full Story
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Texas decertified a widely used electronic pollbook after problems in November. Will a fix arrive in time for the next election? Full Story
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Five people threw their hats in the ring for a single council seat in the South Texas city. That level of interest kicked off an unorthodox — but not unprecedented — series of events. Full Story
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Proposals to allow online registration and broaden photo ID options may have a chance to advance, supporters say. Full Story
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A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students. Full Story
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Under state Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s bill, some individuals could submit requests for explanations of ‘election irregularities’ and potentially bring them to the Texas Secretary of State. Full Story
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One bill has been filed so far, while a pair of lawsuits focus attention on the issue. Full Story
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Voting went well in the presidential election, but Trudy Hancock and her staff are still fielding questions. And the answers don’t seem to matter. Full Story
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A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted. Full Story
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By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work. Full Story
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