Gov. Abbott says mail-in ballots dropped off by hand must go to single location, Bexar County unaffected

Proclamation closes satellite offices where mail-in ballots can be dropped off

KSAT Explainer: Legal twists and turns in battle over mail-in voting in Texas

SAN ANTONIO – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday issued a proclamation limiting where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots ahead of early voting.

Under the new proclamation, starting on Saturday, ballots delivered in person must be dropped off at a single early voting clerk’s office as designated by the elections department.

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It’s an amendment to his July 27 order that extended the early voting period by six days and allowed additional time for a voter to submit a marked ballot to an early voting clerk’s office.

Abbott says it’s an issue of “enhancing ballot security” — an ongoing topic in the debate of mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

“These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting," the governor said in a statement.

The change does not affect Bexar County which only had one designated drop-off, but is a big change for Harris and Travis counties which planned for multiple drop-off sites.

In Bexar County, hand-delivered ballots must go to the elections office at 1103 S. Frio St., Suite 200.

“Because Texas is a Voter ID state (voters) must show their ID when they come in with their voted mail ballot,” said Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen.

Callanen said there will be a separate entrance at the elections office for drop off of mail-in ballots. The ballots must contain a signature across the sealed flap and voters will be asked to sign a roster when they turn their ballots in.

If sent in by mail, ballots should be addressed to:

Bexar County Elections (Early Voting Clerk)

1103 S. Frio St., Suite 200

San Antonio, TX 78207-6328

Absentee/mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Early voting starts on Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 30. Election Day is set for Nov. 3.

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About the Author:

Rebecca Salinas is an award-winning digital journalist who joined KSAT in 2019. She reports on a variety of topics for KSAT 12 News.