Just minutes ago (338am), I watched Sen. Alvarado read the written testimony I submitted yesterday into the record during her filibuster. I have to say that it was powerful and meaningful to hear my words being read on the floor of the State Senate.
In case anyone is interested in what I had to say, this is a copy of the written testimony that I submitted to Sen. Alvarado that she just read on the Senate floor:
Senator Alvarado:
My name is Carl Blair, and I am a native Texan and I have been a resident of the great city of Houston since 2009. Last election, my wife and I were able to utilize one of Harris County's drive-thru voting locations that former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins implemented. We saw this as crucial to our ability to best protect both ourselves, and most importantly our, at the time 15 month old, son from a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19. The drive-thru voting process was quick, efficient, and enabled us to avoid added close contact to other people who we had no way of knowing how seriously they were taking safety precautions against the virus. The health and safety of our family is of the utmost importance to both my wife and myself, and the drive-thru voting process enabled us to vote safely in the midst of the still ongoing pandemic.
So when conservative activist Steven Hotze and others brought a lawsuit to throw out the almost 127,000 votes of people who used drive-thru voting in Harris County, my wife and I were confused, nervous, and very angry that our decision to try our best to protect our family from a deadly disease might cost us our vote. Fortunately that lawsuit failed and our votes were ultimately counted. But no Texan should ever be forced to choose between protecting the health and well-being of their family and their right to vote. That is unconscionable.
I hope our story can be used to fight against voter suppression and remind every Texan that the right to vote is sacred.
Thank you for the efforts you, your colleagues, and your staffs have put in to protect our voting rights.
Sincerely,
Carl Blair