Texas is set to improve in-person and mail-in voting for people with disabilities
Voters with disabilities have been pushing for more accessibility for years. This legislative session two bills gained bipartisan support. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a5d1c341db0e30ae1512c25509298264/0608%20Chase%20Bearden%20JT%2001.JPG)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Contreras.jpeg)
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.
Latest Contributions
-
![Chase Bearden, 45, of Harlingen, the deputy executive director of The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, poses for a portrait in his office in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Disability doesn’t discriminate,” Bearden said. “We want everybody to be able to vote independently.”]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Harris County elections face state intervention under new Texas voting laws
The bill’s sponsor says greater oversight is needed for Texas’ largest county as county officials have vowed to fight the legislation in court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/93059046a595600ba56dc27f6c56f10f/1108%20Harris%20County%20Vote%20MS%20TT%2023.jpg)
![Ballots and scanning machines arrive at central counting after polls close in Houston, on Nov 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature averts $100 million consequences of 2021 law requiring nonexistent election technology
Lawmakers voted unanimously to reverse the 2021 provision that would have decertified equipment that counties use to count votes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/96f441f806ba1e2ea757c01c68384c2c/Hays%20County%20Election%20Test%20EL%20TT%2025.jpg)
![A bipartisan testing crew uses voting machines and tabulators during a state-mandated logic and accuracy test at the Hays County Government building in San Marcos on Sept. 21, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate again approves increasing penalty for illegal voting to a felony, regardless of intent
The House and Senate bills had differed on whether someone should be punished for voting by mistake. Now the two chambers must reach an agreement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8a6b55e1487849cf084aa82f3ff55195/Laredo%20Election%20Day%20JR%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Voting on the Texas A&M International University campus on Nov. 8, 2024.]()
Credit: Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas set to exit multistate program that cleans voter rolls
The multistate program, ERIC, is considered by election administration experts across the country to be the best tool for preventing double voting across state lines. It has been the target of conspiracy theories. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc389142aa7879436f99b808da4634c5/Tarrant%20County%20Election%20Day%20ST%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Election workers move ballots and equipment gathered at one of the nine rally sites to the Tarrant County Election Administration building in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Harris County must remove its elections chief under new legislation headed to Gov. Greg Abbott
The Republican-led House also approved a bill that would give the secretary of state new authority to investigate complaints in Harris County. The Senate must review changes to that bill before it becomes law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c1bce1a17272518435fbfb77983a3476/1108%20Harris%20County%20Vote%20MS%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Ballots and scanning machines arrive at central counting after polls close in Houston, Tuesday Nov 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
After a setback, a GOP effort to get Texas out of a multistate coalition to clean voter rolls could move forward
The legislation — backed by some of the state’s prominent believers in voter fraud — was unexpectedly killed by its House sponsor Tuesday. On Wednesday, he asked for it to be reconsidered. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9c7ed96ae87e83bf6e6650d1f7829747/Tarrant%20County%20Election%20Day%20ST%20TT%2015.jpg)
![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Northwest Branch Library in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Alan Vera, a Republican voter-fraud activist, dies at Texas Capitol
Vera, who planned to testify on election legislation, was a regular at the statehouse. Two weeks ago, lawmakers sang “Happy Birthday” to him during a House Elections Committee hearing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1f2bb286521f732afff8068c72ada5c4/REPS_DAY_THREE___TX-State_desk.jpg)
![SD 7 delegate Alan Vera uses a megaphone to help direct priority ballots among the other delegates of his district during the third and final day of the Republican Party of Texas Convention on Saturday, June 18, 2022, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.]()
Credit: Michael Wyke, Houston Chronicle/Contributor -
Texas House advances bill to eliminate Harris County election chief position
The new law would force the county to move election duties under its clerk and tax assessor-collector, in reaction to what critics call a continued pattern of election problems. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/712e30e93d702b83347e976d6c569191/1108%20Harris%20County%20Vote%20MS%20TT%2030.jpg)
![Election workers process ballot machines at the central counting center at NRG Park in Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
The 13 election bills to watch as the Texas Legislature heads into its last month
Two years ago, Texas lawmakers focused all their election changes in one bill. There are dozens of proposals this year, and many stem from concerns in Harris County — the nation’s third-largest county. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b70524f203c6eab018fe2731777f4916/Tarrant%20County%20Election%20Day%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Voters cast their ballots in the Northwest Branch Library in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune