May 2nd City Election Postponed

In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the City Council of Nassau Bay has officially postponed its May 2020 General Election to the November 3, 2020 uniform election date.

On March 18th, Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation allowing local governments to postpone their May 2nd elections to November 3rd. Following that decision, on March 24th, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a Stay Home – Work Safe Order for Harris County, effectively restricting movement and gatherings through April 3rd, which was later extended through April 30th. Governor Greg Abbott’s March 31st executive order also extended social distancing guidelines through April 30th. Recommendations from the Secretary of State also urged cities to postpone the May 2nd election as soon as possible.

With these considerations, Nassau Bay City Council held a special meeting in March, and after a thorough discussion, the City Council voted to postpone the election to November. These executive orders by Governor Abbott and Judge Hidalgo would have prevented Nassau Bay from allowing voters a safe way to exercise their right to vote.

City Council will discuss the ability to consider dates prior to November 3rd if they become available by action of the State of Texas. The Governor’s current proclamation only authorizes a move to November 3rd. There is no authority for a local political subdivision, on its own order, to move an election to any other date.

Per the guidelines of the Governor’s proclamation, election deadlines for the November election will be followed. Current candidates may withdraw until the deadline listed in the November uniform election date calendar, but no additional applications for the general election will be accepted. The Councilmembers who currently hold public office that were scheduled to be on the May ballot will continue to exercise the duties of those offices until the new officers take their oaths of office, following the November election.

Citizens may register to vote until October 5, 2020 for the November election. All applications for a ballot by mail (ABBMs) that were filed for the May 2nd election that are marked annual would apply for the November 3rd election. All single use ABBMs that were submitted for reasons of age or disability would still be valid for the November 3rd election. If a single use ABBM was submitted and indicated the reason for voting by mail was due to absence from the county, this ABBM would not be valid as the applicable election date has changed. The deadline to submit an ABBM is October 23, 2020. Governor Abbott's proclamation also requires for Harris County to conduct the City's election. Early voting will be conducted October 19, 2020 through October 30, 2020. For more information on the postponement of the City's election, please contact City Secretary Sandra Ham at sandra. ham@nassaubay.com or by phone at 281-336-6281.