Glitch Causes Concern on 1st Day of Early Voting

SAN ANGELO – Early voting for the Nov. 7 Constitutional Amendment election got underway Monday at the Keyes building in downtown San Angelo but not without some controversy.  

According to the Tom Green County Elections office, ballot confirmation printouts for voters showed they cast votes both for and against some propositions.  

Tom Green Co. Elections Administrator Vona Hudson released the following statement about the glitch: 

"Monday, October 23rd, was the first day of early voting for the November 7th Constitutional Amendment Election.

Voters identified a discrepancy in the printed vote records they received after printing out the ballot indicating their choices. When a voter voted “For” on all but three of the amendments, the printed record showed “FORAGAINST” instead of “FOR.” 

Votes were counted correctly but the printed record was not showing the correct language.  “The language is programmed in a box that must be completed by our office as we program the ballot so that the printed record will show the choice the voter made,” said Election Administrator Vona Hudson.  “This language was not entered correctly thus it printed the wrong thing when the ballot was printed.  I am grateful that voters were checking their ballot and called this to our attention,” she continued.  “I assure the voters that the ballot was counted correctly and the only issue was the way it printed on the sheet the voter uses to verify their vote.  Anyone that voted “FOR” on those amendments saw “FORAGAINST” rather than “FOR” but if they voted against the amendment, it showed “AGAINST.” 

Staff immediately worked to make corrections to the issue and it was resolved by 11:30 am.  “I appreciate the actions taken by the voter to call it to our attention, the patience and understanding of the voters that were affected and the quick action of the entire staff to correct this.  Even though everything was counted correctly, we felt it was better to make the correction to avoid confusion moving forward,” said Hudson.

Early voting is being conducted only at the Edd B. and Francis Frink Keyes Building, in the election office, located at 113 W. Beauregard Ave.

            Hours for Early voting are 10/23 – 27, 8 to 5, 10/30 – 11/1, 8 to 5, and 11/2 – 11/3, 7 to 7.  The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, 10/27. 

The blank ballot by mail, sample ballots, a list of polling places, etc. are available on the county election webpage: www.votetomgreencounty.gov."