TEXAS – Starting Friday, there will be fewer places in Texas where you can hand deliver your mail ballot.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday issued a proclamation ordering counties to close satellite drop-off sites, limiting voters to one site per county. In addition, poll watchers will be on hand to observe voters dropping off their ballots.

This means extremely populous counties such as Harris and Dallas are limited to one drop-off location. Harris County, the most populous county in Texas, is generally regarded as a Democratic stronghold.

“This is a deliberate attempt to manipulate the election," Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said at new conference​. 

Travis County currently has four drop-off sites. DeBeauvoir said she intends to see what she can do to challenge the governor’s orders, a move she believes took aim at urban areas. 

“This is absolutely targeted. It is intentional, and this kind of attack on the process will probably continue for the next day and every day through Election Day. So what I need to say to voters is don't listen to the noise, just get up and go vote,” DeBeauvoir said.  

While Abbott characterized the move as one that will improve election security, some Democrats, including Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, called it a case of voter suppression.

Seventy-year-old Phyllis Jaramillo of Travis County was among the few who go to hand in her absentee ballot before Gov. Abbott's orders went into effect.    

"It's the most important election in my lifetime. Because there's going to be distinct changes in the country, depending on who gets elected to president and to the Senate," Jaramillo said. 

Jaramillo said she wanted to make sure her ballot was received in time amid rising concerns about postal service delays. She was surprised to hear about the governor's orders, considering when it comes to mail-in ballots, county officials say the current process is secure enough.

“There are people who need to be able to vote in an easy fashion, so that can get it done. There are older people, such as myself, that may not be able to get around, as well. It's very important. I don't know why he would do that,” Jaramillo said. 

The deadline to register to vote is October 5. The early voting period in Texas begins on October 13.