Overview:

Governor Greg Abbott previously issued an executive order on July 27, 2020, that allowed for absentee voters to expand their opportunities when it came to returning their completed ballots in person. He recognized the need to have a great amount of options available for absentee voters to return their ballots in a safe and efficient way. The July 27 Order did not place limits on the number of ballot return centers that counties were allowed to operate, which allowed for Texas county officials to determine whether or not there was a need for additional ballot return centers. On October 1, 2020, after voting had begun, Governor Greg Abbott contradicted his July 27 Order. He ordered elected county officials to offer absentee voters no more than one ballot return center per county. However, since voting had begun, Governor Abbott specified that absentee ballots that were previously casted at available ballot return centers would remain valid and counted. His October 1 Order impacted County Clerks and their offices, as well as absentee voters who began making voting plans in response to the July 27 Order.