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‘Some concerns there’ | Harris County clerk addresses mail ballot concerns amid Houston mail delays

The Harris County clerk explained her office has several safeguards in place to track and collect incoming mail ballots.

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HOUSTON — As USPS delays continue to impact mail delivery in Houston, there are new concerns about the delivery of mail ballots for the impending March primary election.

On Thursday, KHOU 11 brought those concerns to Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth.

“It’s safe to say there could be some concerns there,” she said. “You know, I am watching closely the dynamics. We do stay in contact with the postmaster here before every election.”

Hudspeth confirmed that she was aware of Houston’s mail delays, but she still encouraged those who want to vote by mail and qualify to do so to vote by mail as they had planned.

“I believe the reason those individuals are voting by mail is because they really need to,” she said.

In Texas, mail ballots must be requested by Feb. 23. Hudspeth said voters should apply for their mail ballots as soon as possible via the mail, the clerk’s website, or hotline: (713)755 6965.

When voters receive mail ballots, Hudspeth said they should be returned quickly. She explained her office has several safeguards in place to collect and track incoming mail ballots including daily ballot pickups at the downtown post office where they are sent and a ballot tracking system on HarrisVotes.com.

Voters can also surrender mail ballots and vote with a “regular” ballot at in-person polling places during the early vote period, Feb. 20 – Mar. 1, and on election day, Mar. 5. Only on election day, mail ballots can even be dropped off at the clerk’s downtown office at 1001 Preston St. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mail ballots can also be returned through UPS or FedEx, according to Hudspeth.

When asked for comment Thursday, both the Harris County Republican Party and Harris County Democrat Party encouraged voters who want to vote by mail to request and send back their mail ballots as early as possible.

In Texas, you may vote early by mail if:

  • You are 65 years of age or older on Election Day;
  • You are sick or disabled (as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002(a));
  • You expect to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day;
  • You are out of your county on Election Day and during early voting hours;
  • You are confined in jail or Involuntary Civil Commitment, but eligible to vote.

Are you having issues with the post office? Send an email to mailproblems@khou.com and let us know. You can see our coverage of delays at Houston-area USPS processing centers on KHOU.com/PostalProblems.

Tracking the mail: Our stories on the postal delays  

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