Harris County cancels elections commission meeting due to lack of quorum

Harris County officials canceled Monday’s election commission meeting, citing a lack of quorum because only two members were able to attend in person. The commission has not yet set a new date for the rescheduled meeting. Hidalgo, one of five members of the commission, announced Sunday evening that she had tested positive for COVID-19. When they meet, members of the county's election commission are expected to pick a new official to run elections, as outgoing Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria's resignation goes into effect on Friday. Beth Stevens, chief director of voting for the county, will become the interim elections administrator until the new hire begins, which Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said is likely to be Aug. 1.

The canceled meeting further delays the narrow timeframe the new administrator will have to prepare for his or her first test: Early voting for the November election begins Oct. 24, less than three months after the new administrator’s likely start date. Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office spokesperson Nadia Hakim said, regardless of the transition, the office is working on plans for the upcoming election. “After hosting a historic 10 elections in 13 months, through a pandemic, legal changes, and redistricting, this office is well-versed in the processes required for a secure election to be carried out as smoothly as possible,” Hakim said in a statement. “Preparations for early voting to begin at the end of October and Election Day on Nov. 8 are well underway.” Harris County had a relatively smooth election night during the primary runoffs on May 24. However, the county could face some difficulties in the November election as they navigate new voting machines, frequent legal challenges and an extremely polarized electorate, Renée Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, said.