Texas Harris County Voter Information Disclosure Challenge

Lawsuit filed on behalf of three Texas voters against County Clerk for Harris County, Teneshia Hudspeth, and County Judge for Harris County, Lina Hidalgo, challenging the county’s public disclosure of voter identifying information. The voters claim that Texas election law — which allows the public to request both the poll books of voting centers and the ballots cast after each election — makes it possible for ballots to be traced back to the voters who cast them. On June 6, 2024, the Texas secretary of state issued an advisory instructing county officials to consider redacting certain identifying information when fulfilling a public information request for voting records that could compromise a voter’s right to a secret ballot. The voters assert that Harris County has not followed the secretary of state’s advisory, alleging the county has delivered voting records to public disclosure requests without any of the recommended redactions. They argue Harris County’s actions violate the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and ask the court to prohibit the county from making public any information from poll books or ballots that could identify voters. 

STATUS: The voters filed their complaint on Nov. 12, 2024. The Harris County officials have not responded yet.

Last updated: November 13, 2024 11:26 am EST