A federal judge on Monday rejected a Republican request to invalidate 127,000 ballots that had already been cast via drive-through voting stations across Harris County, Texas, ruling that the plaintiffs lack standing.
Why it matters: Harris County, which includes the city of Houston, is the most populous county in Texas and voted for Hillary Clinton by just over 160,000 ballots in 2016, according to Bloomberg.
- The ruling comes one day after the Texas Supreme Court denied a nearly identical effort by Republicans in Harris County.
- Texas, which hasn't backed a Democrat for president since 1976, has been rated a toss up by the Cook Political Report. Joe Biden securing the state's 38 electoral votes would virtually guarantee his path to the White House.
The big picture: Dozens of lawsuits related to voting rights continue to be litigated all over the country, as Republicans sue to block efforts to expand voting access — such as extending mail-in ballot deadlines — that have been instituted during the pandemic.
“Count Every Vote” protest outside the federal courthouse in downtown #Houston. Major court hearing today on fate of 127-thousand drive-thru ballots cast in Harris County. pic.twitter.com/BHtfAnpZem
— ed lavandera (@edlavaCNN) November 2, 2020