SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

F. Complaint Collection and Review Process

42. Harris County will submit for approval by the United States, and then adopt, procedures providing for the receipt of and prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging that the County’s voting program discriminates against persons with disabilities.  28 C.F.R. § 35.107(b).  The complaint procedures shall include procedures for election judges and poll workers to gather and document appropriate information from a complainant on site at a polling place during an election, and for Harris County to accept and document phone calls and emails received prior to, during, or after an election.  Harris County will publish the complaint procedures on the Harris County Clerk’s website and provide notices at each polling place during each election.  These procedures will be in place for all elections after the Effective Date of this Agreement.

43. Within ninety (90) days of the Effective Date of this Agreement and for the term of this Agreement, Harris County will designate an employee to serve as an ADA Coordinator for the Elections Division.  The ADA Coordinator will be trained in and knowledgeable about the ADA and the terms of this Agreement, and will investigate any complaint that the County, election judges, or any other person under the authority or control of Harris County receives alleging that the County’s voting program discriminates against persons with disabilities.  The ADA Coordinator will also implement the complaint procedures described in Paragraph 42.  28 C.F.R. § 35.107(a).

44. Harris County will publish a Notice to Voters with Disabilities on its website and at all polling places for all elections within one hundred twenty (120) days of the Effective Date of this Agreement, and for the term of this Agreement, that notifies voters of the name of, and contact information for, the Election Division’s ADA Coordinator. 

45. Harris County will promptly provide to the United States a copy of the written complaint procedures described in Paragraph 42.  Every ninety (90) days, Harris County will provide a written report to the United States including summaries of any written complaints, complaints received as voice messages or other audio files, or written descriptions of verbal complaints, that the County, the election judges, or any other person under the authority or control of Harris County receives alleging that the County’s voting program discriminates against persons with disabilities; and any written responses provided by the County and a written description of actions taken in response to such complaints.  Harris County will provide the United States with copies of any written complaints, complaints received as voice messages or other audio files, or written descriptions of verbal complaints, upon request.