Texas voters claim machines switching their votes
The polling precinct in Dripping Springs, on Roger Hanks Parkway, is where one of the voting machine incidents allegedly took place. Leigh Ann Pollard said it happened to her. She has advice for those still in line.
"Just check the end result, make sure the candidates you are voting are actually on the ballot before you cast the ballot, because it may not be there,” said Pollard. Pollard claims her selection for president got erased after she tried to finalize her straight line party ticket vote.
"It said I had changed my vote. And I didn't change my vote."
She made three attempts to correct the problem and then Pollard said she called over a poll worker. It took another two tries before her ballot was the way she wanted, and after that, Pollard told FOX 7 the blame eventually fell on her. "It could be my error, but I'm afraid if I made that error, my husband made that error my dad and my mom made that error, how many others?” said Pollard.
Since early voting started, similar complaints have been voiced in Travis County as well as in North Texas.
According to a news release from Chambers County on Monday, officials there had to switch to paper ballots.
It was determined a programing glitch, in straight line party voting, was not automatically selecting one race on each ballot. The e-voting machines were back on line by Wednesday morning after corrective software was loaded. State officials say they are aware of the complaints that have been made this week but no direct intervention has been authorized.
"We have been unable to verify any reports of any of the machines changing people's votes, of course there is always potential for human error, or a very small glitch in a particular machine, not changing votes, but causing a problem,” said Alicia Pierce with the Office of the Secretary of State.
While nothing sinister, at this time, has been found in the ballot process, Leigh Ann Pollard still believes voters should not let their guard down. "Be careful, just check, double check,” said Pollard.
There is also a concern that those who cast a straight party ticket vote may be missing things down ballot.
Like municipal races and proposition votes which are nonpartisan.
An advisory was sent out Wednesday from the City of San Marcos. It’s a reminder not to forget to dig deep into the ballot because local issues are not automatically filled in when voting a straight-line ticket.
If a problem happens, state officials urge voters to immediately report it at polling place -- not later.
"Any rumor or innuendos don’t help us. Second, third hand stories don’t help us, hear for people who had actual experience that is what would be the most helpful,” said Pierce.