November Newsletter

November is the month of elections, Veteran’s Day, and Thanksgiving. Times are tough, no doubt. Let me tell you something, though. I am grateful. 

I am grateful that in our wonderful country, we Americans have the right to exercise our vote and choose our future. This year, unlike any other year, the choice is crystal clear. We Republicans know that. The most critical component for us Republicans is to GOTV! The outcome of the election all the way from the top of the ballot to the bottom will be completely turn-out driven. 

I am grateful for our United States veterans who fought to keep us free. I am grateful for our Republican warriors—yes, this would be our candidates. Politics is a full contact sport, and we have extremely qualified and talented Republican candidates.  It is no easy task to put oneself on the ballot. Thank our veterans and candidates when you see them.

I am grateful for YOU—our VRW members! You make it happen. You get your neighbors, friends, and families to the polls. You work countless hours for your candidates. You make the difference. 

It’s the final countdown to Election Day 2020. Let’s make this final push to the first Tuesday in November our best and strongest. We’ve got this! Victory Requires Women! Thank YOU for all you do!

1. Only count hours pertaining to non-paid political activities. Hours as Election judge, Clerk or Poll watcher count ONLY if pay is turned over to county party, your local Federated Women's Republican club, a candidate or the TFRW PAC.
2. Include work done at home such as; preparing campaign posters or signs; telephoning -solicited by a candidate/campaign; backing for a campaign, but not for general club meetings.
3. Count hours working at a special event or organizing the event. BUT NOT if you attend as a guest or if you are compensated for the event.
4. Count hours spent in session at Federation Board of Directors meetings and Federation Conventions and training -also time spent in preparation of convention if on Committee. You may include travel time.
5. Count hours spent in session at precinct, county/district or state party conventions. You may include travel time. NOTE: Please remember to attend your precinct convention!
6. You may count hours spent as members of county or state party committees – during scheduled meeting times and any preparation work. You may include travel.
7. Count political work done at club meetings, IE. Working the sign-in or membership table, driving a candidate, working on mailings, getting candidate petitions signed etc. DO NOT count hours in regular meetings.
8. Volunteer hours done at county, state of Federation Headquarters my be counted. BUT NOT for paid staff positions.
9. All hours volunteered at campaigns and at headquarters include portal to portal travel. BUT NOT stops for personal errands.
10. Count nonpartisan hours for known Republican candidates in city or school board elections. “Known Republican” is someone who voted in the most recent GOP primary election.
11. Women candidates who are members of a club may count their campaigning as volunteer hours – as long as no salary is accepted.
12. Male associate members may count volunteer hours and must follow the same rules which apply to regular members.
13. A female associate member's hours are only counted in her primary club.

Texas has many laws that determine what can and what cannot be done during an election. Most are found in the Texas Election Code and some are in the Texas Penal Code (meaning a violation would constitute a criminal offense. These laws govern Precinct Judges, Clerks, Poll watchers, candidates, and persons handing out literature. The Texas Secretary of State has an extensive guide for poll watchers that covers many of the applicable laws. It has a lot of good information. You can find it here. Many of our members are serving as poll watchers. To all our poll watchers out there – THANK YOU! YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PROCESS.

There have also been reports of election judges telling poll watchers to leave and/or refusing to let them in. Additionally, there have been some reports of certain election judges deliberately setting up the check-in tables so that poll watchers cannot get in a position to see what is happening. So here is a quick guide to a poll watcher’s rights.

Please note that the early voting clerk and the presiding judge of each polling place, as appropriate, have the authority of a district judge while serving in that capacity. This authority enables the early voting clerk or the presiding judge, as appropriate, to use his or her discretion to ensure the safety and efficiency of the early voting and election day polling place and the surrounding 100-foot area. Tex. Elec. Code §§ 32.075(e), 81.002.

What Can Poll Watchers Do? (All references are to the Texas Election Code unless noted otherwise)

The primary duty of a watcher is to observe the conduct of the election at the location where the watcher has been appointed. A watcher may point out to an election judge or clerk any observed irregularity or violation of the Texas Election Code. However, if the clerk refers the watcher to the judge, the watcher may not discuss the matter further with the clerk unless the presiding judge invites the discussion. [Sec. 33.058(b)].

The Election Judge Must Allow poll watchers to:

1. Witness the installation of voting system equipment at the polling place.  [Sec.33.059].
2. Observe the securing of voting system equipment before the election. [Sec. 33.059].
3. Once a watcher has served more than 5 consecutive hours at the polling place, the watcher gains the privilege to leave the polling place and return at the hours he or she chooses, except that if the watcher is present when ballots are being counted, the watcher may not leave until the counting is complete. Additionally, the watcher may briefly leave the polling place to use his or her cell phone or other wireless device, and this does not interrupt the watcher’s 5 hours of continuous service, if the watcher returns promptly. [Sec. 33.052(a)]. A poll watcher may leave the polling place temporarily in order to use a cell phone or other wireless communication device. If the poll watcher promptly returns, he or she is considered to have served continuously as that term is used for calculating his or her continuous 5 hours, which allows the watcher to come and go. [Sec. 62.011].
4. Observe any activity conducted at the location at which the watcher is serving, and sit or stand conveniently near the election officials to observe the activities of the election. [Sec. 33.056(a)].
5. Make written notes while on duty. However, if the watcher is permitted to leave the polling place while the polls are open, the watcher may be required to leave his or her written notes with another person selected by the watcher who is on duty at the polling place. [Sec. 33.056(d)].
6. Observe assistance given to voters by election officials and inspect the ballot before it is deposited in the ballot box to determine if it was prepared in accordance with the voter’s wishes.  [Sec. 33.057(a)]. NOTE: A watcher may not be present at the voting station when a voter is preparing the voter's ballot or is being assisted by a person of the voter's choice, including by a person also serving as an interpreter at the voting station. [Sec. 33.057(b); U.S.D.C. W.D. Tex. Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-00679-RP (Docket Nos. 60, 66) (as affirmed in part by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (No. 16-51126); Docket No. 81) (hereinafter “Docket Nos. 60, 66”)]].]
7. Inspect the returns and other records prepared by the election officers. [Sec. 33.056(c)].
8. A watcher may not participate but may observe the tallying and counting of the votes to verify that the votes are tallied and read correctly.  [Sec. 33.056(b)].
9. Accompany authorized election officials in delivering election records from a precinct polling place, an early voting polling place, a meeting place for an early voting ballot board, or a central counting station.  [Sec. 33.060(a)]. NOTE: Poll watcher and election officials do not need to ride in the same vehicle. [Sec. 33.060(b)].
10. Witness securing of the voting system equipment at the time the polls close. [Sec. 125.063].
11. Receive an English translation of any language spoken other than English between an election official and a voter.  [Sec. 61.036].

 What Poll Watcher’s Can’t Do:

1. Talk with an election officer regarding the election except to call attention to an irregularity or violation.  [Sec. 33.058(a)(1)].
2. Converse with a voter. [Sec. 33.058(a)(2)].
3. Communicate in any manner with a voter regarding the election. [Sec. 33.058(a)(3)].
4. Leave during voting hours on election day without the presiding judge’s permission unless the watcher has completed 5 consecutive hours of service at the polling place. If the watcher leaves without permission and prior to completing the 5 hours of service, the presiding judge may refuse to readmit the watcher. NOTE: The watcher must be allowed to leave to use a wireless communication device and be readmitted to the polling place, if the watcher returns promptly. This does not constitute an interruption in the watcher’s 5 hours of consecutive service.  [Sec. 33.052(b)].
5. Reveal any of the following information before the polls close: How a voter has voted; this offense is a third degree felony. [Sec. 61.006(b)],; The number of votes that have been received for a candidate or for or against a measure; this offense is a Class C misdemeanor.  [Sec. 61.007(a)(1)].; A candidate’s position relative to other candidates in the tabulation of the votes; this offense is a Class C misdemeanor.  [Sec. 61.007(a)(2)]; Whether a measure is passing or failing; this offense is a Class C misdemeanor.  [Sec. 61.007(a)(3)].; The names of persons who have or have not voted in the election; this offense is a Class C misdemeanor.  [Sec. 61.007(a)(4)].
6. Persons are not allowed to use wireless communications devices within 100 feet of the voting stations. Additionally, persons are not allowed to use mechanical or electronic devices to record sound or images within 100 feet of the voting stations. Tex. Elec. Code §§ 61.014(a), 81.002. this applies to Cell phones, Cameras, Tablet computers, Laptop computers, recorders, or any other device that may communicate wirelessly, or be used to record sound or images. NOTE: this applies to Poll watchers and all voters within 100 feet of the voting stations. It does not apply to election officials if they are using the device to conduct official duties. A poll watcher may not be accepted for service if the poll watcher has possession of a device capable of recording images or sound unless the poll watcher agrees to disable or deactivate the device. The early voting clerk or presiding judge may inquire whether a poll watcher has possession of any prohibited recording devices before accepting the poll watcher for service. If asked, The poll watcher must sign an oath stating he or she does not have in his or her possession devices capable of recording images or sound, or that he or she will disable or deactivate the devices while serving as a watcher. Tex. Elec. Code §§ 33.006, et. seq.
7. Section 46.03(a) of the Texas Penal Code generally prohibits a person from bringing a firearm onto the premises of a polling place. However, this prohibition does not apply to a peace officer, regardless of whether the police officer is on or off duty. For this and other potentially applicable exceptions, see Tex. Pen. Code § 46.15. NOTE: Texas Open Carry Law did NOT change the law as it pertain to guns in the polling place; thus no-one except licensed peace officers may carry handguns into the polling place.

 RECOUNT LAWS IN TEXAS

An election recount is a process by which votes cast in an election are re-tabulated to verify the accuracy of the original results. Recounts typically occur in the event of a close margin of victory, accusations of election fraud, or the possibility of administrative errors. Recounts can either occur automatically or be requested by a candidate or voters.

Texas law requires an automatic recount if a tie occurs.

A candidate may request a recount within 5 days after election day or two days after the canvass, whichever is later. There must be less than a 10% margin of the winning candidate’s vote or if the total number of votes received by every candidate amounts to less than 1,000.

The requestor must bear the cost of the recount; however if the recount changes the outcome the costs are refunded. The amount of the deposit is based on the number of precincts involved in the election. Because Harris County is so large, recounts can be expensive. The Requestor must deposit $60 for each precinct in which regular paper ballots were used; and $100 for each precinct in which an electronic voting system was used.

The most recent election recount in Texas was in Dallas County Democrat Primary in March 2020.  County officials found missing ballots but did not change the results.

LETS HOPE REPUBLICANS WIN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT THIS YEAR!

President Deanna Harrington called the meeting to order at 11:30 am at the Houston Racquet Club and welcomed everyone. Penny Remick gave the invocation and Sofia Mafrige lead us in the pledges to the flags.

Campaign Activities Chair, Anne Trousdale and Deanna Harrington, presented checks to the candidates. Mrs. Harrington then introduced the elected officials, candidates, and guests.

Minutes for the meeting on September 30 were approved as distributed.

President Harrington continued with announcements, as follows:

• From Sara Nazarikia, Hospitality Chair: Please make your reservations for our general meeting luncheon on time. The deadline is high noon the Friday before our meeting date.
• From the Board: Mark your calendars now for our holiday lunch 12/16 at the HRC. Mark Brown, CEO of West Houston Assistance Ministries will be our guest speaker. There will be a drawing for a surprise organized by Joanie Bain. Pay your 2021 dues in order to be eligible for the prize. There will also be door prizes.
• From Carolyn Hodges, Chair of the 60th Anniversary Celebration in April: Details will be in the November newsletter.
• Please see Nancy Scott for copies of the Treasurer’s report.
• Westside Headquarters: Election Night Watch Party will begin at 8 pm. RSVP to Beverly Roberts.
• Final Countdown: Several candidates need poll greeters. Contact Anne Trousdale if you are available.

Theresa Kosmoski, Program Chair, introduced Nick Adams, the guest speaker. He is a four-time best-selling author, motivational speaker, and Fox News commentator. Mr. Adams runs the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG), a non-profit organization that teaches civics and informs parents and students on the power of the American Dream.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.