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Texas Matters: Polling Texas, Ballot Box Barriers And Militias Standing By

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Graphic from: STANDING BY: RIGHT-WING MILITIA GROUPS & THE US ELECTION
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and MilitiaWatch
Graphic from: STANDING BY: RIGHT-WING MILITIA GROUPS & THE US ELECTION

With Election Day approaching, each new poll released gains greater gravity. In Texas the polling data offers clues to if the state will end its streak of solid support for the Republican party.

This week the Quinnipiac University poll has Texas in a dead heat with Republican President Trump with 47% of the vote and Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden also at 47%.

This compares to a Sept. 24 poll of likely voters in Texas when Trump had 50% and Biden had 45%. The new poll shows us that Biden voters are early voters. Among those who will vote in-person on Election Day, 62% support Trump and 32% support Biden. Among those who are voting by mail or absentee ballot, 63% say they support Biden and 31% support Trump. But what’s behind these numbers? How reliable are they? It’s important to know how the poll was conducted and who’s participating.

Doug Schwartz is the director of the Quinnipiac University Poll

Ballot Box Barriers

In the 2020 Election Texas has closed more than 700 polling stations across the state. Add in the complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas is seeing increased barriers to the ballot box – which is especially acute for people of color.

Pew Charitable Trust’s Stateline Reporter Matt Vasilogambros reports on issues of voter access during the 2020 Presidential election.

Texas Militias Standing By

Militia groups and other armed non-state actors pose a serious threat to the safety and security of American voters. Throughout the summer and leading up to the general election, these groups have become more assertive, with activities ranging from intervening in protests to organizing kidnapping plots targeting elected officials.

An analysis of militia activity identifies high-risk locations during the election include Texas.

Hampton Stall, the founder of MilitiaWatch, which tracks the right-wing militia movement.

David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org and on Twitter at @DavidMartinDavi