/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.
Officials in the nation’s third-largest county had little time to celebrate their successful election before a judge issued a ruling drudged up many of their past mistakes. The county clerk says her team will ensure a successful 2024 election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7f2ab0eaa2e932a5836ae87d24b97af6/1107%20Election%20Day%20Houston%20AM%20TT%2013.jpg)
Williamson County’s top official said a voter fraud activist was responsible for “almost costing someone their life.” Under pressure from her lawyer, he retracted the statement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/57aad577a52afe0242bc3817f8f5e73b/1010%20Voter%20Fraud%20Trial%20EL%2014.jpg)
This isn’t the first time a state audit flagged such discrepancies. Last year, the state found similar inconsistencies when reviewing Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin counties’ 2020 elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1e660228c30315f25cc5adbebe9927bf/0524%20Harris%20Co%20Runoff%20JR%2064.jpg)
Garcia will replace Michael Scarpello, who had led the elections department in Dallas since 2020. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5a5d2ad83ac33417a2746b539f46da1/0506%20Heider%20Tarrant%20County%20AS%20TT%2008.jpg)
There’s no evidence the machines are insecure, but one Kerr County commissioner is pushing to get rid of them. Two elections administrators have already quit over the commotion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dabc0e0513262f8d3de2982f047ecd76/Kerrville%20Vote%20Count%20NC%20TT%2001.jpg)
The GOP-backed Senate Bill 1 added voting restrictions that plaintiffs claim unfairly impacts voters of color. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a8fc2c09a045472a7f7e17e5b0a5f7a0/Senate%20Filibuster%20SP%20TT%2034.jpg)
Elections officials say finding new buildings and volunteers will be difficult ahead of the 2024 general election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8c2245a25c302813becbf07ebbd7e7dc/Election%20Day%20SA%20RJ%20TT%2016.jpg)
A law that will give voters more time to vote across the state means election offices have to find more workers. That isn’t an easy task in rural Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/edc7851e8400d4c9c5a8201f76118bb4/1108%20Central%20Texas%20Election%20EH%20TT%2023.jpg)
Republican lawmakers targeted the Harris County elections department during this year’s regular session after numerous issues arose out of the 2022 election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d0dda93a49bd8462cb35795437d3b4f2/Harris%20County%20Votes%20AM%20TT%2009.jpg)
A new GOP-backed state law requires Texas to create its own version of a cross-check program or find a vendor that doesn’t cost more than $100,000. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/217812d1f373a2640b0ce38e719d0a17/July%2014%20Runoff%20Houston%20MS%2008.JPG)