Early voting for the District H special election begins three weeks from tomorrow, on Monday, April 27. The Harris County Clerk has posted the early voting schedule and locations (PDF) for this election. Briefly summarized, it is as follows:
For the week of Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1: 8 AM to 5 PM
For Saturday, May 2: 7 AM to 7 PM
For Sunday, May 3: 1 PM to 6 PM
For Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5: 7 AM to 7 PM
There are three locations:
The Harris County Administrative Building, 1001 Preston St downtown, first floor.
Moody Park Recreation Center, 3725 Fulton Street, which I believe is in Lindale.
Ripley House Neighborhood Center, 4410 Navigation Blvd, in the East End.
Martha notes that all three of these locations are inside the Loop and east of I-45, whereas a significant portion of District H is north of the Loop and/or west of I-45, and that this seems like a formula for low turnout. I can’t dispute her argument, but the fact is that these are the only early voting locations within District H that we’ve got. Inside 610 and west of I-45, the only location that’s not by the South Loop is the Metro Multi-Purpose Center on West Gray, which is in District D. North of 610 and inside Beltway 8 there ain’t much – the two closest locations are Acres Homes and the Hardy Senior Center, both of which appear to be in District B. Look at the early voting map from November (PDF) and see for yourself. I don’t know what you can do about this except push for more early voting locations overall.
Anyway. Moody Park is reasonably convenient to me, and I’ve voted there once or twice before, so it’ll be where I go. Make your plans now and be ready to vote when the polls open.