A coalition of groups are asking the state to let Texans vote by mail in the May runoff elections. It's in reaction to the coronavirus.
According to the secretary of state's website, to be eligible to vote by mail you must be 65 or older, disabled, out of the country on election day or in jail.
Thomas Buser Clancy with the ACLU of Texas says the definition of disability in the Texas election code includes those who might suffer physical harm by going to vote. "With Covid-19, what all of the health experts are saying is that gatherings of large numbers of individuals are likely to cause physical harm."
He says the in this unprecedented time of the virus, the Secretary of State should interpret their laws liberally to allow everyone to vote by mail.
Ohio was supposed to hold their primary this week, but moved it due to Covid-19. Buser-Clancy says gathering of large groups could lead to infection. "We recognize there's a challenge here, but it's a challenge that needs to be met because the voting rights of Texans are paramount."The biggest race in the May 26th runoff is between Democrats MJ Hegar and Royce West for the right to run against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
