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AUSTIN Early Voting Targeted AUSTINEarly voting targeted"/> AUSTINEarly voting targeted" /> AUSTINEarly voting targeted" /> AUSTIN Early voting targeted Conservative group sues Abbott over six-day extension Byhe ALEXordered BRISENO two months ago Austin Bureau [email protected] AUSTIN -- A group of conservatives has filed a lawsuit to prevent the six additional days of early voting that Gov. Greg Abbott ordered nearly two months ago. "This draconian order is contrary to the Texas spirit and invades the liberties the people of Texas protected in the constitution," the lawsuit filed Thursday stated. "If the courts allow this invasion of liberty, today's circumstances will set a precedent for the future, forever weakening the protections Texans sacrificed to protect." This is another suit filed by Steven Hotze, who has heavily criticized and frequently sued Abbott over his decisions in response to COVID-19. In April, Hotze sued Abbott following his stay-at-home order. Last month, he filed two suits, one over Texas' contact tracing program, the other over Abbott's mask mandate. Hotze is winless so far in all of his attempts at overturning Abbott's COVID-19 orders. Hotze argues that this could be just the beginning of governors making changes to the Texas Election Code. "Will it be a little easier next time for a governor to unilaterally make sweeping changes to the Texas Election Code, force people to wear certain items or not act in government-disapproved activities on pain of criminal sanctions?" the lawsuit said. Aside from Hotze, other notable plaintiffs include Bryan Slaton, the Republican nominee for Texas House District 2, and Sharon Hemphill, who is running for district judge in Harris County. Former Texas House member Rick Green and former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas Cathie Adams are also plaintiffs "Viruses mutate, so there may be a different coronavirus strain, or some other contagion, next year," the lawsuit said. "Like the flu vaccine, this year's vaccine may not protect against next year's strain. Will we allow a Governor to unilaterally suspend laws, bypass the Texas Legislature and trample on the Texas constitution?" Abbott's proclamation from July extended early voting by nearly a week, which now runs from Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Friday, Oct. 30, in an attempt to protect voters and poll workers and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Abbott also extended the amount of time that mail-in ballots can be delivered in person, allowing delivery leading up to and on Election Day. "As we respond to COVID-19, the State of Texas is focused on strategies that preserve Texans' ability to vote in a way that also mitigates the spread of the virus," said Abbott in a press release following the order. "By extending the early voting period and expanding the period in which mail-in ballots can be hand-delivered, Texans will have greater flexibility to cast their ballots, while at the same time protecting themselves and others from COVID-19." Aside from arguing that Abbott's proclamation violates the Texas Constitution's separation of powers, the lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order that would restrict the Texas Secretary of State from implementing the order. This isn't the first time Abbott altered voting periods. In May, he suspended the provision of the Texas Election Code again in order to allow local governments to postpone their May elections until as late as November. He also added additional early voting days to the July runoff election. Twitter: @alex_briseno .
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