Here’s how to vote by mail in Texas
Your questions answered about who qualifies, when to expect your ballot and how to make sure your vote counts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3450a96bab05cab1322dde0b97165a5d/July%2014%20Runoff%20Houston%20MS%20TT%2004.jpg)
-
![Due to COVID-19 concerns, mail-in ballot drop off locations were scattered across Harris County for the delayed primary runoff election, in Houston on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
A South Texas chaplain prayed with his hospice patients. Then the coronavirus came for him.
The hospital where he had previously ministered to terminally ill patients was full when Adolfo Alvarado Jr. neared death in his Mission home. He was finally admitted, and his daughter watched on her laptop as he died. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/19acf6f5e7d8675ae1ce6a660f30e8c2/RGV%20Chaplain%20Family%20Portrait%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The family members of Adolfo “Fito” Alvarado Jr. at their home in Mission.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
The Democrats' national convention shone a spotlight on Texas' emerging bench — beyond the Castros and O'Rourke
During their party's national convention this week, Democrats got a glimpse of their roster of up-and-coming leaders. Among them were at least four Texans who aren't the usual suspects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7dc4ef801fe01b6705a6a44753ac5d65/Hidalgo%20Allred%20Escobar%20Neave%20TT.jpg)
![Clockwise from top left, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, and State Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune -
Analysis: With elections coming, Texas Republican leaders join the thin blue line
Freezing local taxes in Texas cities that cut police funding sounds better than it works. But the political angle taken by the state's top leaders gives them something other than pandemic and recession to talk about this election season. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61564e83e631cc292b0d88736c0b4d96/ATX%20George%20Floyd%20Protest%20MG%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Austin police officers stand guard as the Austin Fire Department puts out a car that was set on fire by protesters in downtown Austin on May 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
San Antonio postal union leader describes mass delays, says Postal Service hid backlogged mail from congressman
The union leader said tens of thousands of pieces of mail were carted away ahead of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s visit. The office's delays have been exacerbated by employees missing because of COVID-19 concerns. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32e74bce1495f96b47f9f4fc785ccd8b/USPS%20Post%20Office%20AG%20TT%2008.jpg)
![U.S. Postal Service trucks at an Austin office location on Aug. 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Nonprofit that financed a private border wall is now the focus of a corruption case
Investigators say fundraisers for nonprofit We Build the Wall, including Steve Bannon and founder Brian Kolfage, lied to donors and pocketed funds. Trump has tried to distance himself from the group but Kolfage has bragged about their ties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c3b98b3cfc5b66c3f37dbf090454a35/Kolfage%20Trump%20Jr%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![From left, We Build the Wall founder Brian Kolfage and Donald Trump Jr. during the Symposium at the Wall: Cartels, Trafficking and Asylum event in Sunland Park, New Mexico in 2019.]()
Credit: Mark Lambie/El Paso Times via REUTERS -
Jobless Texans still don't know if they will receive extra unemployment benefits
Confusion over unemployment relief in Texas has persisted since President Donald Trump took executive action in early August announcing an extra $400 weekly payment — but only if states administer the funds and chip in a quarter of the cost. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13e0c55b2af2d75c39d745b9489db1c3/ATX%20Bars%20Close%20Again%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg)
![Workers boarded up bars on Sixth Street in Austin after Gov. Greg Abbott closed bars in Texas for the second time in three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic on June 26, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas and the DNC, the fight over police funding, and election mailing woes
On this week's Tribcast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Alex and Ross about Texans' role at the Democratic National Convention, a new front in the local control fight and what election mail concerns could mean for Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4d05c5a1d50a07b0c107f5912fa6d1e6/TribCast%20Aug%2019.jpg)
![Protesters march in downtown Austin on July 27, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Former USPS leader from Texas says Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is “destroying confidence” in the postal service
Carolyn Lewis, a former USPS Board of Governors chair, said she has been disturbed by reports of cost-cutting measures and concerns that the mail service will not be able to handle an influx of mailed-in ballots. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f7afd8168e7c7dfc20f40111a149db9/USPS%20Post%20Office%20AG%20TT%2011.JPG)
![U.S. Postal Service trucks at an Austin office location on Aug. 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
TV ad blitz kicks off in high-profile battle between U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and Wendy Davis
Both sides in the race are launching TV ads Tuesday, auguring an expensive, action-packed sprint to November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdb07d64c1cee0ec33d1a21144eee4eb/Chip%20Davis%20TT.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, and former state Sen. Wendy Davis race for Texas' 21st Congressional District.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar and Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
What you need to know about Colin Allred and Victoria Neave, two of the DNC’s “rising stars”
The Dallas lawmakers are among a group of 17 participating in Tuesday night's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0900456d2fd8e96179e3f291469139ff/Allred%20Neave%20TT%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, and state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
As the Democratic National Convention begins, some Texas Democrats wish their state had a bigger role
Some party leaders have pushed for convention organizers to give more prominent slots to Texans in the convention lineup, eager to show it is a battleground in November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/458f9e4a11987e5833b400eb4b08b95b/Democratic%20Party%20Office%20EG%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The Travis County Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Why voting matters to these Texans — then and now
Hear Texas advocates describe their takes on the practice of voting and its importance to themselves and their generation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2c4b73cecf5f29bce32b4d90c5db61f8/Lead-Generations-Split-3.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Marion S. Trikosko for the Library of Congress / Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Democrats, local election leaders fear Donald Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting foreshadow voter suppression
Changes at the U.S. Postal Service have raised concerns about whether ballots will be delivered on time, but local officials and Democrats stress that mail-in voting remains a vital and safe way to cast a ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/93cb8b6b8d8c387f7a566beb34321c8b/USPS%20Truck%20EG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A USPS delivery truck in Austin on April 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
USPS warns Texas that some mail-in ballots may be delayed in November
It is unclear how many Texas voters may be affected should delays occur. Texas was among 46 states that received a warning from the United States Postal Service, according to The Washington Post. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b9990fd391bf1dc1d9111450f4cec4f/COVID%20USPS%20EG%20TT%2010.jpg)
![USPS employee Sweetie Dionne delivers mail on her usual route in the Cherrywood neighborhood in Austin on April 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats see a winning formula in Kamala Harris. Will she bring suburban women and Black voters to the polls?
State Democrats see her as someone who can excite key voting groups but who won’t alienate more moderate voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e8f3c1767f98cb9edeb84928fda2376a/Kamala%20Harris%20PYH%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Texas Southern University in Houston on March 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket and the state of college football
On this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Raga about college football this fall and what Kamala Harris means for Texas Democrats in November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/48b03eb36890827233af98f202a23065/TribCast%20Aug%2012.jpg)
![Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Texas Southern University in Houston on March 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
White House acknowledges new unemployment assistance less than what President Trump originally touted
Under President Donald Trump’s directive, the federal government may only have enough money to pay the enhanced $300 weekly benefits for about five weeks. The extra federal benefit was previously $600 a week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3e13a72378969057b497ba10323ceb10/Trump%20Exec%20Orders%20Aug%208.jpg)
![U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after signing executive orders for economic relief during a news conference amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey Aug. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Joshua Roberts /REUTERS -
T-Squared: Okay, *this* is the best Texas Tribune Festival program ever
250 speakers. 100 sessions. 30 thought-provoking days. And you don’t have to leave your comfiest chair. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cdf259a4cb6f126ea98de4c26f934e82/TTF20_FullProgram-T2.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas State Sen. Pat Fallon wins GOP nomination to replace John Ratcliffe on November ballot, becoming Ratcliffe's likely successor
Fallon moves on to a November challenge with a Democratic opponent in the solidly red district. The vacancy was created when Ratcliffe was confirmed as U.S. director of national intelligence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bed715e836ec54bf12902e4b8b3a5681/06_Senate_action_April_9_JF_TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune