Organizers forced to move Get out the Vote Rally from Veterans Park

Today's Get out the Vote Rally at Veterans Park has been moved and will now be held on the vacant lot across the street from the park.

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos earlier said the rally violates the election code and had asked the county's Election Department to move it because of its proximity to an early voting location.

The rally will be moved to the new location because officials do not want to be accused of doing anything unlawful, said Jose Borjon, communications director for U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus, Christi, who is organizing the event.

In an e-mail to Election's Adminstrator Roger Ortiz, Cascos said the event falls under Section 61.004 of the Texas Election Code, which addresses Unlawful Operation of Sound Amplification Device or Sound Truck.

Former President Bill Clinton will appear with U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz and other local Democrats at today's rally scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Also scheduled to appear are U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo and Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes along with John Wood, the Democratic Party candidate for Cameron County Judge.

Section 61.004 of the election code states an individual violates the election code if the person during the voting period and within 1,000 feet of a building in which a pollling place is located, the person operates a sound amplification device or loud speaker while the device is being used for a political speech or electioneering for or against any candidate, measure or political party.

An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Early voting is taking place at the Brownsville Public Library on Central Boulevard, which is right next to Veterans Park and Cascos asked Ortiz to notify the organizers and have it moved.

The library early voting location is the busiest in the county with 2,168 votes being cast there during the early voting period, which is the highest number of all countywide early voting locations.

Ortiz said he has received numerous telephone calls since early this morning regarding the rally and its proximity to the early voting location. He said if microphones and amplifier systems are used during the rally it would be in violation of the election code.

Cascos said he received telephone calls regarding the alleged violation and decided to notify Ortiz since he is in charge of the elections.

Cascos said he isn't against the rally. However, he is against its location and its apparent violation of the election code.