Mail-In Ballot Applications Rejected at High Rate

Mail-in ballot applications for the March 1 primary are being rejected by almost 40% — largely because of a missing ID number, which is now required after a new voting bill passed the Legislature last year.

The Houston Chronicle reported that nearly four in 10 Harris County mail ballot applications had been rejected as of last week. Early voting began Feb. 14, and the deadline for mail ballot requests is Feb. 18.

Other counties across Texas also reported high rejection rates, including Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Those seeking to vote by mail must include a driver’s license number, a state ID number, or in some cases the last four digits of their Social Security number. If what the applicant provides doesn’t match the applicant’s individual voter registration information, the application must be rejected.

Texas has one of the strictest vote-by-mail requirements in the country. Registered voters are eligible to vote by mail if they are 65 years or older; sick or disabled; out of the county on election day and during the early voting period; expected to give birth within three weeks before or after election day; or confined in jail but otherwise eligible.

Early voting continues through Feb. 25.

Drought Conditions Improve

The latest drought map for the state shows a slight improvement as of Feb. 1, with 84% of the state experiencing some level of drought, down three percentage points from the previous month. Dr. Mark Wentzel, hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board, said there were some improvements in the last month, mainly in East Texas. Additional rainfall in early February, mainly in East Texas and Central Texas, should improve conditions by the next report in March.

Wide swaths of the Panhandle and the Great Plains are experiencing the worst drought conditions.