In defiance of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Dallas County commissioners support using mail-in ballots in the November election because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The commissioners discussed voter rights and public health Tuesday morning. All but one voted in favor of letting voters send ballots through the mail if they are concerned about contracting the coronavirus.
“People who want to will have an opportunity to do so,” Commissioner Elba Garcia said.
One commissioner opposed.
“We did not approach this the right way, we rushed. We rush into things. This again is a similar instance of doing things the wrong way, we need to do a wait and see approach,” said Commissioner J.J. Koch, who said he worried about confusing voters.
Stay at home orders
In Dallas County, there have been 114 deaths from COVID-19.
Commissioner John Wiley Price said the public has been confused. He described the data from Dr. Philip Huang, director of the county’s health department.
Price wants the stay-home order to be rescinded. The order is in effect through May 15.
Tomorrow, @jwp03 wants to rescind the #SaferAtHome order. Epidemiologists,Infectious Disease Chiefs and our Public Health Authority ask @elbagarcia @TMD_DallasComm @JJKoch and me
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) May 4, 2020
to not rescind it! I’ll vote with the doctors. What do you think should happen? pic.twitter.com/9TZknixgSc
Testing
Commissioners want more of an explanation about the testing data.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said he wants to look at hospitalization and death rates.
“Now you want to look at it?” said Price. “You created this model. We are just following your numbers. You’re not preventing, you’re delaying.”
Garcia said she wants more testing.
“We have not overwhelmed our health system, but more testing has not been seen,” she said.
Jenkins responded with a question.
“The questions our constituents have is, I understand I can go to the movie theater, but when will the public health authority say it would be a good idea?”
Jenkins also announced that there will be more testing at Walmart. He said to go to DoINeedACOVID19Test.com if you need a test in Dallas County.
Tomorrow, @jwp03 wants to rescind the #SaferAtHome order. Epidemiologists,Infectious Disease Chiefs and our Public Health Authority ask @elbagarcia @TMD_DallasComm @JJKoch and me
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) May 4, 2020
to not rescind it! I’ll vote with the doctors. What do you think should happen? pic.twitter.com/9TZknixgSc
"I also have engaged people in voting, I have never seen [fear]," Cindy Castilla to Dallas County commissioners.
— Robby Montoya (@RobbyMontoya) May 5, 2020
"I have zero experience ever in teenagers being anything but excited to turn 18 and vote."
