Texas Harris County Early Voting Extension Request

A pro-voting lawsuit requesting that Harris County extend early voting hours to account for weather-based closures.

Background

Houston Justice and Pure Justice filed a lawsuit against Harris County, Texas seeking emergency court intervention to extend early voting hours after severe winter weather forced the closure of polling places during a congressional runoff election. The plaintiffs argue that the cancellation of early voting on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26, 2026, unlawfully deprives voters in Texas’s 18th Congressional District of their right to vote, particularly because those days included the final days of early voting required by state law. Plaintiffs seek a temporary and permanent court order requiring Harris County to add compensatory early voting hours—specifically, 12 hours on Wednesday, January 28, and at least seven hours on Thursday, January 29—to make up for the lost voting time.

Why It Matters

Without court intervention, thousands of voters could be disenfranchised in an election already delayed by the long vacancy of the congressional seat following the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D).

Latest Updates

• Jan. 25, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their petition and emergency application for a temporary restraining order.