Harris County officials are approving an initiative that will pay employees extra to assist with elections.

HARRIS COUNTY – Harris County employees may soon be paid extra for labor elections.

The County Court of Commissioners approved the clause by a vote of 4 to 1 (Commissioner Tom Ramsey voted no) to add further incentive to enlist county workers to help on Election Day.

“My goal is to have a stable core of workers, people who have been trained,” said County Administrator David Berry. “People who are trained to process votes, people who are trained to help machines, and they can help our election administrator run a smooth election.”

Berry said he asked election administrator Clifford Tatum to determine what kind of people the election commission would need.

The move followed several lawsuits, reviews, and bills from Austin.

Last week, Houston businessman Jim “Matress Mac” Mackingwale filed a lawsuit over the 2022 midterm elections in Harris County.

He created a website hardtovote.comasking people who had problems during the November 8 elections to share their stories.

“The right to vote is essential to a functioning democracy, but during the November 2022 elections in Harris County, many citizens were denied that right. This is not about Democrats or Republicans, not about political parties, but about the electoral process,” the website says. “Your story can help draw attention to the need for fair and accessible elections. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us.”

Mackingvale supported Republican Judge Lina Hidalgo’s rival Alexandra del Moral Miler and appeared with her in at least one advertisement.

Miler announced in January that she would run in the November elections.

“They are going too far,” Judge Hidalgo told reporters during a meeting of the Commissioners’ Court on Tuesday. “I think they are going too far and the community should be aware of what is going on. We recognize that there are some changes that need to be made and those changes are being made, but everyone knows there are no systemic issues.”

VOTE ADMINISTRATION STATEMENT: “We have discussed with the County Administrator options to strengthen and expand the existing County Volunteer Program into an official program that is even more stable and effective. These are ongoing discussions to expand on what has been rolled out for the county elections in the last few county elections.” — Nadia A. Hakim, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Harris County Election Administration.