GOP, Democrats stick with different balloting choices
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Two distinctly different methods of casting ballots will have Wharton County election officials scrambling during the upcoming March primaries.

Early voting for the March primaries starts Tuesday, Feb. 19 and runs through Friday, Feb. 29. Election Day is March 4.

During the early voting period, Wharton County Republicans are planning a return to paper ballots while Democrats are sticking with the iVotronic touchscreen voting machines.

The GOP choice to return to paper was prompted by a Boling resident's resident's voting scare during the Nov. 6 state amendment election. One machine apparently malfunctioned that day when Jim Welch attempted to cast his ballot. It was the only documented error in the county out of 20,000 votes cast on the machines.

"With technology today, I think it is a step backwards," Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens said. "But with all the current media attention, I understand the voters' concerns and will be implementing additional measures to help relieve those concerns."

Owens, acting on a directive from commissioners court, made the GOP paper ballot request to the Department of Justice, which must approve voting procedure changes.

That request was made Jan. 3, Owens said, adding the DOJ has until March 3 to respond - after early voting starts.

"I have been in contact with the Secretary of State's Office; they said to proceed according to the court order," Owens said.

Over the past several days, her office is working to reconcile the two different balloting methods.

"Most people think what's the big deal, you are qualified then you get a ballot. Wrong," Owens said. "The machine count is cumulative then you add 13 different ballots for the GOP. Each of 13 precinct ballots must be reconciled daily and cumulatively to balance to the cumulative total of the signature sheets."

Although the GOP is responsible for ballots, supplies and the like, Owens' equipment will be used to do the final counts.

There are 24,171 voters current registered in the county.

Important Dates

Feb. 4 - last day to register.

Feb. 19 - first day of early voting.

Feb. 26 - last day to apply for ballot by mail.

Feb. 29 - last day of early voting.

March 4 - primary election.

Additional information is available on the Texas Secretary of State's Web site at: www. sos.state.tx.us.