Lawsuit claims Harris County voting system discriminates against voters with disabilities

A recent class-action lawsuit has been filed against Harris County, Texas, claiming that the current voting system in place excludes voters with disabilities, especially those with reading and writing challenges. The lawsuit alleges that the county’s vote-by-mail program is inaccessible to individuals with print disabilities, who have difficulty reading or handling printed materials, as it only offers paper ballots for mail voting. This limitation makes it challenging for voters with print disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently.

The plaintiffs in the case include Cedric Bryant, Ted Galanos, Louis Maher, Michael McCullouch, and the National Federation of the Blind of Texas (NFBTX). Representing the plaintiffs are Disability Rights Texas and the Brown Goldstein & Levy law firm. The lawsuit specifically names Teneshia Hudspeth, in her official capacity as the County Clerk of Harris County, Texas, and Harris County itself as defendants.

The crux of the lawsuit revolves around the demand for an accessible electronic vote-by-mail system that would enable individuals with print disabilities to use assistive technology to read and mark their ballots independently. The plaintiffs argue that while Harris County already provides electronic ballots to military personnel, overseas voters, and even astronauts in space, it fails to extend this option to voters with print disabilities.

The lawsuit was officially filed on February 3, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The plaintiffs assert that the county’s failure to provide an accessible electronic vote-by-mail system for voters with print disabilities violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Despite requests from Disability Rights Texas and others for an accessible electronic voting system, Harris County allegedly refuses to implement this option. The plaintiffs argue that the current system makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for individuals with print disabilities to vote privately and independently.

For individuals with disabilities looking to vote, the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities emphasizes their legal right to assistance when registering to vote and casting ballots. The Texas Election Code Section 64.031 allows voters to receive help from a person of their choosing or a poll worker, without needing to provide proof of disability.

In cases where individuals require assistance at polling locations, it is recommended to inform the polling workers in advance. For those considering voting by mail, eligibility criteria include being sick or having a disability, being 65 years or older, being out of the country on Election Day, and more. Detailed information on how to fill out, print, and send a ballot by mail is available for individuals looking to exercise their voting rights from home.

KPRC 2 News has reached out to Harris County and County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth for their response to the lawsuit and will update the article with their statements as soon as they are received.