https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/natalia-contreras-votebeat-and-the-texas-tribune/The latest news by Natalia Contreras.enTue, 20 Jun 2023 19:04:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/texas-voting-mail-ballot-disabilities-abbott-veto/The bipartisan legislation was long sought by advocates for disabled voters, including some of the governor’s own allies.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 20 Jun 2023 19:04:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/texas-voting-mail-ballot-disabilities-abbott-veto/Gov. Greg Abbott gives a speech in the Senate chamber at the Texas Capitol on the opening day of the 2023 Legislature. On Saturday Abbott vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have given people with disabilities another option to vote by mail.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gives a speech in the Senate chamber of the Texas Capitol on the opening day of the 2023 Legislature.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/tarrant-county-elections-administrator/The county’s Election Commission unanimously appointed Clinton Ludwig to the job. None of the three finalists had any election administration experience.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 16 Jun 2023 18:19:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/tarrant-county-elections-administrator/Cases of ballots and equipment at the Tarrant County Elections Administration building in Fort Worth last month. The county's Election Commission on Friday named Deputy County Clerk Clinton Ludwig as the new elections administrator.Cases of ballots and equipment at the Tarrant County Elections Administration building in Fort Worth, Texas. on May 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/tarrant-county-elections-administrator-finalist/Karen Wiseman previously sued former election administrator Heider Garcia and participated in a right-wing group’s search for 2020 voter fraud. She’s one of the three finalists, none of whom have experience running elections.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 14 Jun 2023 17:25:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/tarrant-county-elections-administrator-finalist/Karen Wiseman comments on an item concerning the current electronic poll book system in place during a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023.Karen Wiseman comments on an item concerning the current electronic poll book system in place during a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/09/texas-voting-disabilities-law-changes/Voters with disabilities have been pushing for more accessibility for years. This legislative session two bills gained bipartisan support.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 09 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/09/texas-voting-disabilities-law-changes/Chase Bearden, 45, deputy executive director of The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, poses for a portrait in his office in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Disability doesn’t discriminate,” Bearden said. “We want everybody to be able to vote independently.”Chase Bearden, 45, of Harlingen, the deputy executive director of The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, poses for a portrait in his office in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Disability doesn’t discriminate,” Bearden said. “We want everybody to be able to vote independently.”Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/harris-county-elections-texas-oversight-law/The bill’s sponsor says greater oversight is needed for Texas’ largest county as county officials have vowed to fight the legislation in court.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/harris-county-elections-texas-oversight-law/Ballots and scanning machines arrive at Harris County’s central counting after polls close in Houston on Nov. 8, 2022. The state is set to create new oversight after the 2023 legislative session.Ballots and scanning machines arrive at central counting after polls close in Houston, on Nov 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-voting-equipment-law/Lawmakers voted unanimously to reverse the 2021 provision that would have decertified equipment that counties use to count votes.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 26 May 2023 11:50:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-voting-equipment-law/A bipartisan testing crew uses voting machines and tabulators during a state-mandated logic and accuracy test at the Hays County Government building in San Marcos on Sept. 21, 2022. The goal of the test was to identify errors in the counting process of ballots.A bipartisan testing crew uses voting machines and tabulators during a state-mandated logic and accuracy test at the Hays County Government building in San Marcos on Sept. 21, 2022. The goal of the test was to identify errors in the counting process of ballots.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-felony-illegal-voting/The House and Senate bills had differed on whether someone should be punished for voting by mistake. Now the two chambers must reach an agreement.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 24 May 2023 19:57:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-felony-illegal-voting/College students begin to vote at Texas A&M International University. The Texas Legislature wants to make voting illegal a felony again.College students begin to vote at Texas A&M International University.Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-voter-fraud-eric-voting-roll/The multistate program, ERIC, is considered by election administration experts across the country to be the best tool for preventing double voting across state lines. It has been the target of conspiracy theories.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 23 May 2023 19:10:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-voter-fraud-eric-voting-roll/Election workers move ballots and equipment gathered at one of the nine rally sites to the Tarrant County Election Administration building in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.Election workers move ballots and equipment gathered at one of the nine rally sites to the Tarrant County Election Administration building in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-legislature-harris-county-elections/The Republican-led House also approved a bill that would give the secretary of state new authority to investigate complaints in Harris County. The Senate must review changes to that bill before it becomes law.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 23 May 2023 10:32:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-legislature-harris-county-elections/Ballots and scanning machines arrive for counting after polls close in Houston on Nov 8.Ballots and scanning machines arrive at central counting after polls close in Houston, Tuesday Nov 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-eric-republican-voting-fraud-bill/The legislation — backed by some of the state’s prominent believers in voter fraud — was unexpectedly killed by its House sponsor Tuesday. On Wednesday, he asked for it to be reconsidered.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 17 May 2023 17:41:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-eric-republican-voting-fraud-bill/Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Northwest Branch Library in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022. Texas Republican leaders hope to leave a multi-state group that helps keep voter rolls clean.Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Northwest Branch Library in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/alan-vera-dies-texas-capitol/Vera, who planned to testify on election legislation, was a regular at the statehouse. Two weeks ago, lawmakers sang “Happy Birthday” to him during a House Elections Committee hearing.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 04 May 2023 16:07:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/alan-vera-dies-texas-capitol/Alan Vera uses a megaphone to help direct priority ballots among the other delegates of his district during the third and final day of the Republican Party of Texas Convention on Saturday, June 18, 2022, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Vera died at the Texas Capitol Thursday moments before he was expected to testify on election legislation.SD 7 delegate Alan Vera uses a megaphone to help direct priority ballots among the other delegates of his district during the third and final day of the Republican Party of Texas Convention on Saturday, June 18, 2022, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.Michael Wyke, Houston Chronicle/Contributorhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-legislature-harris-county-elections/The new law would force the county to move election duties under its clerk and tax assessor-collector, in reaction to what critics call a continued pattern of election problems.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 02 May 2023 10:46:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-legislature-harris-county-elections/Election workers process ballot machines at the central counting center at NRG Park in Houston on Nov. 8.Election workers process ballot machines at the central counting center at NRG Park in Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-election-legislation-2023/Two years ago, Texas lawmakers focused all their election changes in one bill. There are dozens of proposals this year, and many stem from concerns in Harris County — the nation’s third-largest county.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-election-legislation-2023/Voters cast their ballots in the Northwest Library in Fort Worth on Nov. 8, 2022. Texas lawmakers are debating more than a dozen bills that would reshape the state’s elections.Voters cast their ballots in the Northwest Branch Library in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-house-illegal-voting-felony-penalty/The Texas Senate has passed similar legislation. But a key policy separates the two chambers.Brian Lopez and Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 27 Apr 2023 16:09:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-house-illegal-voting-felony-penalty/A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center during Election Day in Houston on Nov. 3, 2020.A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center during Election Day in Houston on Nov. 3, 2020.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/tarrant-county-elections-tim-ohare/County Judge Tim O’Hare wouldn’t rule out hiring someone who questions the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, calling it “not an automatic disqualifier.”Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/tarrant-county-elections-tim-ohare/Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare listens to comments over the electronic pollbook system in place during a Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023. O'Hare will lead the search to replace the county's exiting elections administrator Heider Garcia.Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare listens to comments over the electronic pollbook system in place during a Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/17/Heider-garcia-tarrant-county-elections-tim-ohare/Heider Garcia, like many other election officials across the country, faced death threats that stemmed from lies about the outcome of the 2020 election.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneMon, 17 Apr 2023 13:52:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/17/Heider-garcia-tarrant-county-elections-tim-ohare/Tarrant County Election Administrator Heider Garcia looks at his phone while working Election Day at the election administration building in Fort Worth on Nov. 8, 2022. He resigned from his position Monday.Election Administrator Heider Garcia looks at his phone while working Election Day at the Tarrant County Election Administration building in Fort Worth on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-election-equipment-law/The original provision was part of the state’s major overhaul to election laws in 2021.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 13 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-election-equipment-law/A voter casts a ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church in Austin on Oct. 14, 2020.A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-voting-fraud-eric/It took years to build the multi-state system known as ERIC, which weeds out duplicate, deceased and suspicious voter registrations. Texas Republicans want to dump it, but there’s no viable alternative.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-voting-fraud-eric/Volunteers from the Alpha Advocacy Group helped register voters outside the Alpha Seventh day Adventist Church on Sept. 27, 2020.Volunteers from the Alpha Advocacy Group helped register voters before the upcoming deadline outside the Alpha Seventh day Adventist Church on Sept 27, 2020.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/texas-senate-illegal-voting-felony-vote/The priority bill, backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, reverses a change the Legislature made two years ago during an omnibus voting bill that made illegal voting a misdemeanor.Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneMon, 13 Mar 2023 17:14:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/texas-senate-illegal-voting-felony-vote/Voters line up outside of the Hays County Independent School District Arnold Transportation Building voting center to cast votes in the Texas general elections on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kyle. The Texas Senate on Monday gave initial approval to a bill that would raise the penalty for voting illegally from a misdemeanor to a felony.Voters line up outside of the Hays County Independent School District Arnold Transportation Building voting center to cast their vote in the Texas General Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Kyle.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/texas-voting-eric/ERIC is a national system that Texas officials say is an important tool to keep voting rolls clean. But a band of right-wing voting fraud activists, joined by state GOP officials, wants to gut it.Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 09 Mar 2023 16:19:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/texas-voting-eric/A voter walks into the Hays County Government Center Elections Office to cast their vote in the 2022 general election in San Marcos.A voter walks into the Hays County Government Center Elections Office to cast their vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in San Marcos.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune