Early voting has been extended to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day is Saturday, Jan. 31. (Photo by johndavis.io via Shutterstock)
A Harris County judge has extended early voting in the Congressional District 18 runoff after winter weather forced polling sites to close for two days. Civil rights groups argued the shutdowns risked disenfranchising voters, and the ruling restores lost time with added voting hours on Wednesday and Thursday. Both candidates, Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards, praised the decision as Election Day approaches on Jan. 31.
Extension follows civil rights lawsuit over weather shutdowns in closely watched congressional runoff.
A judge has ordered Harris County to extend early voting in the Congressional District 18 runoff, granting two additional days of access after civil rights groups sued to restore time lost during this week’s weather‑related shutdowns.
Pure Justice, the Texas Civil Rights Project and Houston Justice filed the lawsuit after severe winter weather forced early voting sites to close for two days. The groups argued the closures effectively shortened the early voting period and risked disenfranchising voters in the closely watched Democratic runoff between Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards.
Under the court’s order, early voting will now include extended hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Durrell Douglass of Houston Justice, who is also a resident and voter in District 18, said the ruling carries personal significance. “I feel relieved. I feel excited because in a time when we’ve had so many losses when it comes to democracy, to get a win feels good for our community,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for this election for so long, so today was just one more feather in the hat.”
Douglass said the extension gives voters “that much more of an opportunity to have our voices heard” in what he described as one of the most consequential elections the district has seen in a generation. He called the ruling “a symbolic win,” adding that “either way it goes on the 31st, it’ll be a win for the community as well.”
Both candidates welcomed the decision.
Menefee encouraged voters across Spring Branch, Northeast Houston, Acres Homes and Third Ward to take advantage of the added time. “You can go vote on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and then of course, Saturday is Election Day,” he said. “It’s been an honor of my lifetime to be your candidate. I’m so excited that we got two more days. This is a big win for voter access in our communities.”
Edwards also praised the ruling. “We are thrilled that the court has ruled in favor of democracy by extending the early voting period by two days after a two‑day inclement weather closure,” she said. “Early voting is now Jan. 27–29 and Election Day is Jan. 31. We look forward to sharing this information with everyone in the 18th Congressional District so that they may cast their ballots and finally have their voices heard.”
Harris County officials acknowledged the weather closures but said they were necessary for public safety. The court’s order requires the county to compensate for the lost time before Election Day.
Election Day for the CD‑18 runoff is Saturday, Jan. 31.
