What you should know about the terminal upgrades before you're council member makes their vote.

The focus of our request were those emails tied to the nearly $2 billion dollar United Airlines project at Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal B.

Hollins filed a letter Tuesday with the city’s Office of the Inspector General and the Houston City Council Ethics Committee with the request.

Think of the position as the city's Chief Financial Officer.

In the aftermath of Mayor John Whitmire calling out City Controller Chris Hollins over alleged “pay to play” conflicts for an upcoming conference, KPRC 2 is looking into how the City will hold its chief financial officer accountable.

Houston firefighters took to social media to celebrate the newfound victory claiming in a post, “this is a huge victory for our heroes on the frontline.”

Each week we in our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation are showing you water bills for hundreds, even thousands of dollars that are “draining” Houstonians. NEW TODAY: We are asking questions about the planned water bill increases and extra city money. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains why some are questioning whether the city needs the extra revenue.

Registered voters within city limits decided the fate of Houston’s next city controller on Dec. 9.

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced on Wednesday he has endorsed Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as Houston’s Mayor.

Facing a crowded field, Hollins, who served briefly as Harris County clerk in 2020, announced Thursday he will instead run to be Houston’s chief financial officer.

Harris County Republican leadership said the primary election problems were due to a variety of issues related to voting machines, training, and incorrect ballots.

Former interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced his candidacy for Houston mayor Monday afternoon.

Former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins rose to prominence by pushing ways to expand voting access in Texas’ most populous county during the November 2020 election.

Houston leaders are gathering Wednesday to denounce voting bills that are moving through the Texas Legislature.

Officials discussed election fraud and how they want to prevent it. Abbott has mentioned a number of times, especially during the 2020 election, that election fraud is “very real” and happens in different ways. Abbott did, however, say that former President Barack Obama prosecuted a voter fraud scheme in South Texas where cocaine was used to pay voter harvesters. “Election fraud is unacceptable.”AdA small group carrying signs protested against Senate Bill 7 outside Bettencourt’s office, calling the proposed bill voter suppression. “We should be focused on making voting more accessible and stop trying to create obstacles and distractions with unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud,” Turner said.

The Harris County Election Security Task Force was made up of the Harris County Precinct 1 constable’s office, the district attorney’s office, the county attorney’s office and the county clerk’s office. The task force operated from Oct. 13 through Nov. 3, which was Election Day, according to the report. The task force responded to a separate 77 calls for service. (The task force found no explosives.) The four county offices represented on the task force are all led by Democrats.

HOUSTON – Most agree that the voting process in Harris County -- whether early voting or on Election Day -- was very smooth compared to previous years. Newly-appointed interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins takes credit for much of the success. In the 2020 Harris County election, there were 1.4 million early ballots cast, an unprecedented number. Hollins, a 34-year-old lawyer who graduated from Hightower High School, stepped in as interim Harris County Clerk in June. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve in this position and protect the right to vote in Harris County,” Hollins said.

Victoria Houptman-Bryan joins demonstrators as they stand across the street from the federal courthouse in Houston, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, before a hearing in federal court involving drive-thru ballots cast in Harris County. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – A panel of federal appeals court judges has rejected an eleventh hour Republican effort to bar Election Day drive-thru voting in Houston. The court hadn't been asked to invalidate votes already cast at drive-thru sites in the Houston area. “Hopefully it's all over now.”Attorney Jared Woodfill, a former Harris County GOP Chairman representing those opposed to drive-thru voting centers, noted that county Clerk Chris Hollins has shut down all but one of the county's 10 drive-thru locations for Election Day. "We have stopped the illegal voting on Election Day because Mr. Hollins has shut down drive-thru voting in all locations but one,” Woodfill said.

HOUSTON – A federal judge issued an order to uphold Harris County drive-thru voting but stated that the tents being used to house most drive-thru voting centers will not qualify as “buildings,” which are required for Election Day polling locations. Instead of 10 drive-thru locations, the Toyota Center will be the only drive-thru voting center available in Harris County on Election Day because of the new order. In order to allow for drive-thru voting on Election Day while ensuring that all votes will be counted, the only drive-thru voting center on Election Day will be at Toyota Center. Woodfill said he would immediately appeal the decision, accusing Harris County officials of using their office to help Democrats win Tuesday. Harris County had originally offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus.

HOUSTON – On Sunday, about 100 County Clerk’s Office staff members worked to process about 400 presiding election judges. We have over 800 Election Day voting centers,” Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said. Workers made sure election judges had their list of voters for each precinct and other items they need to process voters on Election Day. “We give them essentially the control boards that they’ll be using to check in voters on election days, but we don’t have those machines yet. He said there will be over 11,000 workers on Election Day to make sure all votes get counted.

But in much of Texas, elections come down to the people like Mooney, a 55-year-old former car dealership office manager turned election junkie. Rule changes have come often this election season, covering everything from when absentee ballots can be counted to wearing masks while voting, leaving election administrators scrambling to keep up. Stroud used to work at the city library, and came into the election administrator's job in September. She is often on the phone with neighboring election administrators talking through logistics and the latest procedural changes that are essential to running a successful election. According to each of the election officials, their families and friends finally understand how important and stressful their job is.

HOUSTON – Friday is the last day of early voting in Texas and people across Harris County have been heading to the polls. “Nearly 1.4 million registered voters have already come out and made their voices heard in Harris County," Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said. KPRC 2 reporter Cathy Hernandez was out at Victory Worship Center in North Harris County to speak with people voting overnight. Voters urged people to get out and make their voice heard and called Harris County an example of what it looks like to make voting accessible to everyone. Among those heading out this morning was Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who made the occasion a family affair.

HOUSTON – Early voting ends Friday. The Harris County Clerk’s Office provided more voter access than ever before, tripling the number of early voting centers from just over 40 in 2016 to 122 this November. All 122 early voting locations will be open until 7 p.m. Friday. “My number one priority is to keep voters and election workers safe this November,” said Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins. Cypress, TX 77429Voting Methods122 Early Voting CentersDrive-thru voting at 10 locations24-hour voting at eight locations on Thursday, Oct. 29Extended hours to 10 pm Tuesday, Oct. 27 - Thursday, Oct. 29Remaining Key Dates

HOUSTON – The Texas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that drive-thru voting can proceed in Harris County. The court denied a request by Republicans for an emergency motion aimed at stopping people from casting their ballots from their vehicles. Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said in a statement posted on Twitter that he is happy with the result and he hopes this means that drive-thru voting will be available to Harris County voters in the future. The Court's decision to uphold the legality of Drive-Thru Voting as a safe and convenient way to vote underscores that this November, democracy is on the ballot. " (1/4) — Harris County Clerk (@HarrisVotes) October 22, 2020This developing story will be updated.

HOUSTON – A date for the runoff in the race for Houston City Council District B seat has been set, more than a year after the original election. Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced Wednesday that the deciding contest between Cynthia Bailey and Tarsha Jackson will be held Dec. 12. Jackson finished first in the 2019 general election but did not garner enough of the vote to avoid a runoff with Bailey, the second-place finisher. “It’s a shame that it has taken this long to determine the future of District B, but I’m glad that this matter will soon be put to rest,” Hollins said in a written statement. “Voters in District B will have an important decision to make this December.”The District B seat is still filled by Councilman Jerry Davis, who was to vacate the seat because of term limitations.

HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo along with social media star “Curbside Larry” urged residents Wednesday to continue to vote early and take advantage of a wide variety of voting options. Hidalgo said Harris County alone beat the entire state of Georgia during the first day of early voting. She said more than 128,000 votes were recorded Tuesday, shattering the records for 2016 and the most early voting the county has ever seen on a single day. Hidalgo also commended Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins for his efforts in making access to voting easier for all residents in the county. Hidalgo called the lawsuit confusing and its goal was to only confuse residents during early voting.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: If drive-thru voting is found to be illegal, will those votes still be counted? Answer: According to the lawsuit presented by the Republican Party of Texas, all votes will be cast and counted until drive-thru voting potentially comes to a halt. [RELATED: Texas GOP files suit to stop drive-thru voting in Harris County]“Unless stopped, each of these instances of illegal voting will cast a cloud over the results of the General Election, as illegal votes will be cast and counted in direct violation of the Texas Election Code,” the lawsuit states. According to Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, drive-thru voting which is available to all county residents who want to vote from their vehicle is separate from curbside voting which is reserved for voters with disabilities, including illness.

HOUSTON – Voters in Harris County shattered records for turnout Tuesday on the first day of early voting. The record for highest day turnout during early voting was broken after 4 p.m. when the number passed the 100,000 mark. “We’ve already shattered the ‘opening day’ record for Early Voting turnout,” Chris Hollins, Harris County Clerk, wrote in a tweet. We’ve already shattered the “opening day” record for Early Voting turnout (68k) and there are still more than FIVE HOURS of voting left. Turner also announced the Mayor’s Early Vote College Challenge to inspire the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and Rice University students to vote early.

HOUSTON – The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed earlier decisions supporting Harris County’s plan to mail unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters, most of whom do not qualify to vote by mail. On Aug. 25, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins tweeted his plan to mail an application for a mail-in ballot to each of the county’s more than 2 million registered voters. Two days later, the Texas Secretary of State threatened to sue Harris County if it did not “immediately halt” its plan. His office released a statement titled “Texas Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Voter Suppression" condemning the decision. Jones said whether or not Texas should allow anyone to vote by mail is a valid, but separate question.

The Republican justices sent the case back to a lower court in Harris County to issue an injunction blocking Hollins from sending the mailers. Turnout in Harris County, both major parties acknowledge, will have major impacts on races at the top of the ticket and the bottom of the ballot. In 2018, 17% of the Democratic votes for Beto O’Rourke were cast in Harris County. Applications for mail-in ballots have already gone out to voters in Harris County who are 65 or older. Harris County voters could start dropping off completed absentee ballots in person starting Sept. 28.

A drop-off location in Austin on Oct. 1, 2020, where voters can hand deliver their ballots by Election Day. Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas TribuneEditor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click here. Under Abbott’s new order, counties like Harris, with 12 drop-off locations, and Travis, with four, can each have just one location. “We must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state,” Abbott said Thursday in the news release revealing his latest order. They’d be telling us they trust the voters, the process and the results — as they’ve done in elections past.

HOUSTON – Inspired by Pharrell Williams featuring Jay-Z song “Entrepreneur,” a new video highlights Black entrepreneurs and businesses in the Houston area. Most impactfully, the video draws attention to the many success stories of local entrepreneurs and business owners. “There are way too many dope, Black entrepreneurs in Houston to fit them all into one video,” said Williams, the founder of Twice Media Productions, a Houston-based marketing company that produced the video. Other local businesses and entrepreneurs featured:Darryl King owns five companies with officers across the world and he and his companies have given nearly a half-million dollars in donations and scholarships. Here is the full video of Houston-area, Black-owned businesses:

Greg Abbott issued an order Thursday that limits the number of places voters can drop-off their mail-in ballots to one per county. Abbott said mail ballots can be dropped off in-person at only one place that is designated by each county’s early-voting clerk. Democrats respondAfter Abbott’s order on limiting mail-in ballot drop-off locations, local Democratic leaders noted the restriction as voter suppression. "Our office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations. order, Fort Bend County Judge KP George announced a plan to open satellite elections offices for voters to drop off completed mail-in ballots.

HOUSTON – Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced a new ballot tracking system that will help voters who applied to vote by mail keep tabs on the progress of their application. This is the first time Harris County voters will have the opportunity to track the status of their application form when it received to when their ballot is mailed out and received back, according to a news release. “The Mail Ballot Activity Tracker will provide voters with more information about the status of their vote-by-mail application and mail ballot and will give them an idea of when they can expect to receive election-related mail,” according to the release. Hollins said the Harris County Clerk’s Office is expecting a record number of mail-in ballots, so “providing voters with more information –– so they are able to track their application status when their ballot is mailed to them, and when my office receives their ballot –– gives voters peace of mind about the mail voting process.”Hollins encourages anyone who has applied to vote by mail, to track their application and ballot using the tracker. From there, simply enter your name, date of birth and either the last four digits of your Social Security Number or your Texas ID number.

HOUSTON – The BBVA Stadium will join the list of stadiums across the nation to serve as a voting center on Election Day. The Houston Dynamo and Dash teamed up with Rally the Vote in efforts to help drive participation in voting. The stadium will be open to any registered voter in Harris County on Nov. 3. The Toyota Center will be open to any registered voter in Harris County during early voting from Oct. 13 through Oct. 30 and on Election Day on Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.READ: Toyota Center, all other NBA arenas will serve as voting centers for 2020 presidential electionPlanning to cast your ballot at the BBVA Stadium? “I encourage all voters to make a plan to vote and participate in the upcoming election.”You can find a map of all the polling locations in Harris County for early voting and on election day on the Harris County Clerk’s website.

A litigious conservative activist in Houston, the Harris County Republican party and a number of Republican officials and candidates are asking the Texas Supreme Court to limit in-person and absentee voting options for Harris County voters during the pandemic. Republicans across the country, including leaders in Texas, have sought to cast doubt on the security of absentee ballots — skepticism experts say is not merited. There are documented cases of voter fraud in Texas, but with absentee ballots as overall, it is rare. Texas is one of just a few states that has not allowed for no-excuse absentee ballots during the pandemic. The Trump campaign has encouraged its voters to request absentee ballots, even as the president claims without evidence that it will lead to fraud.

The state of Texas has one view while Harris County has another. Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins is a guest this week on Houston Newsmakers and says the state of Texas is using legal tactics to keep eligible voters from having the opportunity to vote. “We’ve been to court here in Harris County, and we won because the law’s on our side,” he said. See her interview on this week’s program and more on Houston Newsmakers EXTRA with President Stacey Stewart . Houston Newsmakers Sunday mornings at 10:30amMore Information:Chris Hollins, (D) Harris County Clerk· Website: https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/· Twitter: @HarrisVotesMario Diaz, KPRC Investigates· Website: https://www.click2houston.com/team/Y64QYFJB2BCMPL3ZJIAKUVBHA4/· Twitter: @KPRC2MarioStacey Stewart, President & CEO, The March of Dimes· Website: https://bit.ly/369DwX3· Twitter: @MarchOfDimes

An intermediate state appeals court on Friday sided with Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins in his quest to mail applications for absentee ballots in the November election to every registered voter in the county. But the ruling will not take effect before the case is heard by the Texas Supreme Court. “The State failed to meet its burden of showing that mailing the applications will result in irreparable injury,” the panel wrote. Harris County came under fire from Texas Republicans after announcing it planned to mail out applications for mail-in ballots to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county. The county has already mailed out applications to voters who are 65 and older, as it did in the July primary runoffs.

The Texas Supreme Court granted the Texas attorney general’s request to halt the county’s effort just before a separate order blocking the mailing was set to end. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneThe Texas Supreme Court has once again blocked Harris County from sending mail-in ballot applications to all its 2.4 million registered voters ahead of the November election. The all-Republican court told Harris County to hold off on sending any unsolicited applications for mail-in ballots “until further order” and while the case makes its way through the appeals process. Paxton kicked the request up to the Supreme Court after the appeals court declined his request to block the lower court's ruling and instead set an expedited schedule to consider the appeal. The order in the Harris County case was the second issued by the Supreme Court on Tuesday that affects mail-in voting procedures.

HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s appeal to last week’s court ruling that allows Harris County to send mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters was denied Tuesday. According to the decision issued by the 14th Court of Appeals, Paxton’s request for an injunction was denied because Paxton and Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins had reached a previous agreement in the Texas Supreme Court. In Texas, voters can cast their ballot by mail if:They will be away from the county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period. “As surely as night follows day, this case will ultimately be decided in the Texas Supreme Court,” KPRC 2 legal analyst Brian Wice said. Wice went on to add that based on its batting average in these matters, “The Attorney General’s office will be the prohibitive favorite.”There are approximately 2.4 million registered voters in Harris County.

HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed an appeal to a ruling that allows the Harris County clerk to send mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters in the county. Sending applications to all registered voters would sow confusion, Paxton said. Hollins has said he will include literature that lays out the law with every mail-in ballot application that is sent, so voters can decide for themselves if they qualify to request a mail-in ballot. In Texas, voters can cast their ballot by mail if:They will be away from the county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period. Hollins has said the nature of the coronavirus pandemic means he must ensure voters who are sick can still vote.

Published: September 10, 2020, 7:57 am Updated: September 10, 2020, 8:27 amHOUSTON Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins is set to provide an update Thursday on preparations underway for the November election. Hollins is scheduled to speak at NRG Arena after giving the media a tour of the countys election headquarters. The tour is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Click2Houston.com plans to offer a livestream of Hollins' news conference when it begins. Election Day is Nov. 3. This story will be updated.

HOUSTON COVID-19 precautions mean more people will be able to vote by mail in the upcoming election. Who can vote by mail in Texas? Forty-three states and the District of Columbia allow their citizens to vote by mail without restriction. I was a soldier, so when I deployed I used the mail-in ballot to be able to vote in the regular elections from overseas. The key to making sure your mail-in ballot is counted: dont wait until the last minute to mail it in.

But the ongoing attempts by the White House to sow doubt over the reliability of voting by mail has left Texas voters in a blur of cognitive dissonance. West and other prominent Texas Republicans have floated unsubstantiated concerns that increased mail-in voting creates opportunities for widespread voter fraud. Texas voters must also navigate a mismatch between the U.S. The Texas Democratic Party previously announced it was sending out more than 815,000 applications for mail-in ballots to eligible Texas voters in August. Court battles continueSixty days out from the election, the rules for voting by mail in Texas remain largely the same.

Here are things you need to know for Thursday, Sept. 3:1. Texas Supreme Court stops Harris County from sending ballot-by-mail applications to ineligible registered votersThe Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily stopped the Harris County clerk from sending ballot-by-mail applications to all of the countys 2.4 million registered voters. The stay issued by the court comes just days after a lawsuit was filed by the Harris County Republican Party against Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins. The Lotto Texas jackpot, which was at its largest prize in more than a decade Wednesday night, only got larger after the numbers drew no winners. 3 things to shareWORD OF THE DAY:Clamber: [ klam-ber, klam-er ] (verb) To climb, using both feet and hands; climb with effort or difficulty.

HOUSTON The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily stopped the Harris County clerk from sending ballot-by-mail applications to all of the countys 2.4 million registered voters. The stay issued by the court comes just days after a lawsuit was filed by the Harris County Republican Party against Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins. Statement from HollinsOur offices top priority is to protect the right to vote and, during the time of COVID-19, to ensure that Harris County voters can cast their ballots safely. We look forward to sending applications to other eligible voters after we have our day in court. The stay that the Texas Supreme Court issued today simply affirms what we already agreed towe will have a hearing in Harris County District Court in the coming days and then proceed as planned.

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneThe Texas Supreme Court has temporarily blocked Harris County from sending mail-in ballot applications to all its voters for the November election. The decision Wednesday came in response to a lawsuit filed days ago by Republicans in the states largest county. Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced last month that the county would send applications to its more than 2.4 million registered voters, an effort to make it easier to participate in the election due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Harris County GOP lawsuit alleges that Hollins is a "rogue clerk who is abusing the application to vote by mail process and compromising the integrity of elections in Harris County." The uproar over the Harris County plan is the latest front in the battle over mail voting during the pandemic in Texas.

HOUSTON – The state of Texas filed lawsuit against Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins Monday in an effort to stop him from sending ballot by mail applications to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county. And not based in any real understanding of Texas law. We’ve been assured by the County Attorney’s office that what we’re doing is a furthering of our duty as the election administrator in Harris County,” he said. Dissenters of Hollins’ move include the Harris County Republican Party, which filed a petition Sunday with the Texas Supreme Court to stop Hollins. The county GOP says Hollins’ plan could lead people to misuse or abuse the vote-by-mail privilege.

Harris County Clerk sued by state, county GOP over effort to send ballot by mail applications to all registered votersPublished: August 31, 2020, 6:49 pmThe state of Texas filed suit against Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins Monday in an effort to stop him from sending vote by mail applications to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county.

HOUSTON – NRG Arena has been designated as the election headquarters for the Harris County Clerk’s Office for the upcoming 2020 presidential election, NRG Park officials announced Monday. In addition to in-person voting, NRG Park will also serve as a drive-thru voting location, something Hollins likens to pulling up at your favorite fast-food restaurant. In-person Election Day voting will be held Nov. 3 at NRG Arena Proper. “We are proud to provide this facility for Harris County voters to participate in one of the most important rights and responsibilities that we as citizens have,” Executive Director of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation Ryan Walsh said. NRG Park has pledged to maintain the highest standards of public safety and health for the community as proud participants of Houston Clean and ASM Global’s Venue Shield.

Harris County previously announced it planned to send applications for mail-in ballots to every registered voter in the county, prompting objections from the Texas secretary of state. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Acting at the request of the secretary of state, the Texas attorney general on Monday sued Harris County after it refused to drop plans to send applications for mail-in ballots for the November general election to more than 2 million registered voters. The lawsuit marks the latest development in a growing battle over voting by mail in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic. There is no state law that specifically prohibits election officials from sending out mail-in ballot applications to all voters.

HOUSTON Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that he issued a proclamation extending the early voting period for the November election by nearly a week in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the proclamation, early voting by personal appearance in Texas will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 13, instead of Monday, Oct. 19. The early voting period will continue till Oct. 30 before Election Day on Nov. 3. For the runoffs, Abbott had doubled the early voting period, shifting the start date from July 6 to June 29. Abbott and other Texas GOP leaders continue to resist a push by Democrats to expand mail-in voting.

Greg Abbott on Monday extended the early voting period for the November election by six days, citing continued challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Early voting for the Nov. 3 election will now begin Oct. 13 instead of Oct. 19. During a TV interview in late May, Abbott said he would add more time to the early voting period for the November election like he did for the primary runoff election earlier this month but did not elaborate. In a letter to the governor, Hollins requested Abbott move the start date to Oct. 13 at the latest. For the runoffs, Abbott had doubled the early voting period, shifting the start date from July 6 to June 29.

HOUSTON Coronavirus concerns did not keep voters from heading to the polls for the July 14 primary runoff election. Voter turnout during the pandemicLarge crowds were not expected, officials said, because primary runoff elections are typically low turnout. But Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins all 109 polling locations were busy Tuesday. "We've seen a lot of traffic a lot of voters interested in coming out and having their voices heard today. I think voters feel safe and they've heard from their neighbors and friends and family that they are safe at the polls and they're able to go out and cast that vote," he said.

HOUSTON – The Harris County Clerk’s Office reported Monday that they’ve hit a record number of votes by mail for a primary runoff election. In the first week, a total of 79,818 voters cast their ballots. The number of mail ballots has increased due to a surge in voters 65 years of age and older who are opting to vote from home. It’s important to note that in early June, the County Clerk’s Office sent mail ballot applications to every registered voter aged 65 and up in Harris County due to concerns related to COVID-19. Voters who are not able to vote by mail should take advantage of the last few days of early voting,” Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins is quoted as saying in a news release.

HOUSTON Early voting kicked off in Harris County with major changes to keep voters and poll workers safe during the coronavirus pandemic. When you go to a polling center you will see the following:Free masks if you dont have oneSocial distancing signs and markings on the floorHand sanitizing stations at the entrance and exitDisinfecting wipes to clean your voting machineFinger covers to push buttons on the machine if you dont have glovesPoll workers wearing masks and face shields behind plexiglassWere providing all these extra measures to ensure that youre not exposed to other voters, poll workers and that were keeping our poll workers safe too, said Chris Hollins, interim Harris County Clerk. Voters said they appreciated the additional precautions. It made me feel a lot safer, its more measures than I thought would be taken, Blake Lambert said. Here are the dates and times for voting in Harris County:Early Voting:June 29 - July 2, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.July 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.July 6 - July 9, 7 a.m. -7 p.m.July 10, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.Election day is July 14 and the polls are open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.