Politics & Government

Federal Judge Deals Texas Narrow Defeat Over Mail-In Ballot Limits

The ruling by the U.S. District judge is limited but orders Texas not to enforce that narrow part of the law against Harris County.

(Lauren Ramsby/Patch)

February 12, 2022

A federal judge on Friday night, Feb. 11, handed Texas’ elections overhaul a partial defeat days ahead of 2022’s first primary over rules that criminalize encouraging voters to get a ballot by mail.

Find out what's happening in Dallasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio is limited but orders Texas not to enforce that narrow part of the law against Harris County, which in 2020 sought to send more than 2 million voters mail-in ballot applications during the pandemic in the state’s largest Democratic stronghold.

Texas was expected to appeal the decision, which comes just days before early voting begins for the first-in-the-nation primary on March 1.

Find out what's happening in Dallasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


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