Dear Harris County Voter, 

 

In a plan set in motion more than two years ago, Governor Abbott’s Republican Legislature pushed through Senate Bill 1933—a law that allows Abbott’s appointed Secretary of State to take over Harris County’s elections based on vague claims of “election problems.” This means Republicans outside Harris County could decide when, how, and effectively whether we conduct fair elections in Harris County. 

 

Unfortunately, after participating in a successful joint primary in 2024, the Harris County Republican Party is now rejecting that proven model—even though joint primaries have long been more efficient and effective. This decision will likely lead to the very confusion, strain, and longer lines that can be used as a pretext to trigger SB 1933 and justify a state takeover. Republicans are running the same playbook in Dallas County, where they have also forced a separate primary and ended countywide voting on Election Day. 

 

In this non-joint primary in Harris County, you will encounter two separate election operations under one roof: separate lines for each party, separate voting machines that cannot be shared across party lines, and separate presiding judges with their own clerk teams. In practice, that means Democratic voters should be prepared for longer lines and slower voting, while Republican machines and staff may sit unused just a few feet away—especially in locations with high Democratic and minimal Republican turnout. 

 

To navigate these conditions, plan ahead: vote early, choose off-peak hours on Election Day, and make sure friends and family know they must select and remain in their own party’s line and use only that party’s machines. Your informed participation and preparation will help safeguard the integrity of our democracy and protect local control over our elections.