Election Equipment Malfunctions Disrupt Voting in San Angelo

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – The voting process at the Texas Department of Transportation's polling center on 4502 Knickerbocker Road faced an unexpected glitch when the ballot scanner malfunctioned, plunging the device into an "Alert Mode." Vona Hudson, the Elections Administrator, reported that the malfunction prevented election workers from resolving the issue promptly.

Tom Green County has invested millions in election and balloting equipment, particularly after new state laws passed post-2020 presidential election mandated fresh software and hardware for the past two electoral cycles. These upgrades were designed to ensure the accurate counting of every ballot.

The voting procedure involves an electronic polling booth capturing each voter's selections and printing a scannable 8.5x11 paper ballot with those choices. A vote is only deemed official once this paper ballot is scanned. It's important to note that the electronic voting machines do not count votes; vote tallying is solely the domain of the scanners.

A scanner breakdown on election day is significant. However, Hudson assures that there are established protocols for such situations. The printed ballots will be securely stored at the polling site until the close of voting at 7 p.m. Subsequently, they will be transported under strict security to the elections office at the Edd B. Keyes Building for scanning and tabulation.

Dispelling rumors, Hudson confirmed that ballots cast at the TxDOT site are considered official and will not be relegated to "provisional" status. The solution is straightforward: instead of individual scanning, all ballots will be processed together later in the evening, ensuring they are included in the final tally.

Voters across Tom Green County are making their decisions on 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution during the November 7 Special Election. The polls will remain open until 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. County residents can vote at any voting center regardless of the precinct the voter resides. Here are the polling locations.

Angelo Bible Church 3506 Sherwood Way, Lobby
Belmore Baptist Church 1214 S. Bell St., Fellowship Hall
Calvary Baptist Church 2401 Armstrong St., Fellowship Center
Christoval Community Center 20022 Main, Christoval, TX. Multi-purpose room
Concho Valley Transit District (Bus Depot) 506 N. Chadbourne St., Annex Building
SAF San Angelo First 1442 Edmund Blvd., Fellowship Hall
Grape Creek Community Center 8207 US Hwy 87N, Gene Marsh Board Room
Keating Paint & Body 5050 N. Chadbourne St., Reception Area
Paulann Baptist Church 2531 Smith Blvd., The Chapel
Oak Grove Senior Apartments 4375 Oak Grove Blvd., Multi-purpose Room
Southgate Church of Christ 528 Country Club Rd., Fellowship Hall
Southside Recreation Center 2750 Ben Ficklin Rd., Multi-purpose Room
St. Ambrose Catholic Church 8602 Loop 570, Wall, TX, 76957, Fellowship Hall
MHMR Concho Valley, Admin. Bldg. 1501 W. Beauregard Ave., Jack Ray Room
Veribest Baptist Church 50 FM 2334, Veribest, TX 76886, Fellowship Hall
Wesley United Trinity Methodist Church 301 West 18th St., Fellowship Hall
TXDOT 4502 Knickerbocker Rd., Bldg. E, Training Room
St. Mark Presbyterian Church 2506 Johnson Ave., Fellowship Hall

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