Uncertainty Lingers Over Extended Poll Hours Ballots in Texas Counties
As of Wednesday, the fate of ballots cast during extended polling hours in Texas’ primary elections remains uncertain. This affects counties like Dallas and Williamson, where confusion over voting locations has led to the segregation of these ballots.
In Dallas County, the Texas Supreme Court intervened on Tuesday night, pausing a lower court’s decision and leaving election officials awaiting instructions on whether to count these ballots. Likewise, in Williamson County, north of Austin, ballots from two polling places with extended hours have been set aside.
Terri Burke, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, expressed concerns over the situation in Dallas County, a Democratic stronghold. “In a lot of ways, nobody was surprised by the writ from the Supreme Court last night,” Burke stated, indicating skepticism that these late ballots would be included in the final count.
Official data from the Dallas County Elections Department indicates that 2,316 provisional ballots were either rejected or pending. This figure encompasses ballots flagged for various issues, including those segregated by the court’s order. In total, nearly 280,000 votes were cast in the county’s election, based on unofficial data.
The election process in Dallas County was further complicated by a precinct-only voting system, implemented due to a local Republican decision. This system, which replaced the option to vote anywhere in the county, led to confusion and some voters being turned away. Burke noted, “There is a case to be made, and we can document it, there were people who were disenfranchised.”
In response to the voting chaos, a local judge ordered an extension of poll hours by two hours in Democratic precincts, citing significant voter confusion. This extension was initially feared to impact the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, especially since Dallas is Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s home base. However, Crockett ultimately conceded to state lawmaker James Talarico.
The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is advancing to a runoff against Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, challenged the lower court’s ruling. The Texas Supreme Court’s subsequent orders specified that ballots from voters not in line by the 7 p.m. closing time should be separated in both Dallas and Williamson counties.
Emily French, policy director for Common Cause Texas, explained that setting aside ballots cast during extended hours is standard procedure. She cited El Paso, where voting was extended for an hour due to earlier issues with voter check-in systems. French anticipates that these ballots will eventually be counted if the extension remains uncontested.
Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, emphasized the organization’s commitment to ensuring every Texan’s vote is counted, stating they are closely monitoring the situation and exploring all available options.
