Marie McGrew, Harris Fellow, Office of Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth
July 26, 2022

The nationwide search for a new Harris County Elections Administrator (EA) has come to an end, with the selection of Clifford Tatum. This decision comes after months of deliberations and struggles to meet a quorum of the election committee.

Tatum will be only the second person to hold the position following his predecessor Isabel Longoria who was named to the newly created position in 2020.

Tatum is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He has served as the head of Washington, D.C.’s Board of Elections and as the general counsel for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for four years. Also he served as the interim director for the Georgia State Elections Division. A very experienced pick for Harris County elections administrator, Tatum will also be the first African American to sit in this position.

Yet taking this position will be no walk in the park for Tatum. Harris County houses over 2.5 million voters. He will also be up against constant criticism the county faces over how they run elections. Notably the slow reporting of 10,000 mail-in ballots on election night in the March primary election led to his predecessor Isabel Longoria’s resignation.

While the November general election is quickly approaching, Tatum cannot assume his position until August when he gains residency status and becomes a registered voter in County. In the meantime, Beth Stevens has been named the interim EA. This leaves Tatum with a small window to prepare for the upcoming election.

Despite what seems like a small window, the Harris County Election Commission has faith in Tatum’s ability to get the job done. The commission consists of Harris County (HC) Judge, HC Clerk, HC Tax Assessor Collector, HC Republican Party Chair, HC Democratic Party chair. They voted unanimously for Tatum 5-0. Judge Hidalgo makes it very clear that she is confident in the decision stating, “He won’t be elections administrator for at least another month, but he will be listening and learning and ready to hit the ground running.” There is no doubt there is a long road ahead for the new EA.

Tatum’s job as EA is to keep the public informed of the election process. The importance of information is emphasized on the county's website. “Information is vital to accessing the voting process. For this reason, I encourage you to contact us if you have a question, need assistance, or have a suggestion." (Harris)

It is so easy to lose clarity when it comes to information during a transition. It is critical that the elections administration office stay connected and consistent when it comes to informing the voter, especially during a relatively high turnout election that is projected to take place this November. Knowing the parameters of the law will without a doubt help Tatum along this journey. Yet voters, too, must seek and share accurate election information to help ensure that future elections in Harris County serve as an example of how to effectively run elections. It is also pertinent that voters utilize free resources that are available to keep them informed on upcoming elections. For instance, The League of Women Voters puts out information in four languages that are required within Harris County. Voters can also get involved by getting in touch with their precinct chairs and there is also the opportunity to get involved in local civic clubs. There are so many things voters can do to become more civically engaged.

Remember, “Democracy in America is like a baby being born. You’ve got to participate in its conception, or that baby’s never going to look like you.”- Hector De Leon

The content and opinions expressed on this webpage are solely the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of nor are they endorsed by the University of Houston or the Hobby School of Public Affairs.

Sources:

Harris votes - voter registration. Home - Election Division. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.harrisvotes.com/VoterRegistration?lang=en-US