Poll workers, residents say March primary left voters waiting; county urged to review moving-services contract

Many poll workers, party leaders and voters told the Williamson County Commissioners Court on March 10 that problems during the March 3 primary left some polling locations late to open and many voters waiting in long lines.

"We were not allowed to enter our rooms until 6 in the morning on Election Day. We cannot set up an election site in one hour," said Nitha Inger, a Cedar Park poll worker with nearly 10 years' experience, who told the court she opposed a moving-services contract (an agenda item) because the contracted delivery schedule forced poll workers into impossible setup windows. "That is unacceptable. We need to do better for our voters."

Jose Orta, a Taylor poll worker since 1996, described his polling place for five precincts as "chaotic" and said numerous voters were turned away on election day. "We muddled through... but we had a share of irate voters, both Republican and Democrat, who were turned away," he said.

Elected Democratic Party chair Kim Gilbey thanked county election staff and poll workers for long hours but said turnout and operational issues combined to disenfranchise some voters. "We had unprecedented turnout — people stood in line two to three hours and some couldn't wait," she said.

Dr. Laura Presley, speaking for True Texas Elections, urged the court to withhold funding for certain elections items until she said the department "follows the law," and said she had reports alleging logic-and-accuracy testing and machine-programming changes after tests were completed. Presley told the court she had counted "at least 20" early-vote federal ballots she considered improper and said she could provide reports; commissioners treated that figure as a claim to be investigated rather than a confirmed finding.

Several speakers specifically objected to a moving-services contract for election equipment that was on the agenda (and part of the consent packet the court approved earlier). Poll workers said delayed deliveries and restricted access to sites reduced setup time and increased the risk of sites opening late.

Commissioners acknowledged the complaints. The court invited the elections office and party chairs to return for a dedicated agenda item on March 24 to review the election-day operations and any contract or procedural changes. Chair (county judge) said the commission wants every voter to have the chance to cast a ballot and pledged further discussion and review.

The transcript shows the court approved the consent agenda (which included election-related funding items) earlier in the meeting; public commenters asked the court to reconsider procedures and contracts that affected election operations. The court did not reverse any previously approved consent items during the March 10 session.

Next steps: Commissioners scheduled a follow-up discussion and asked elections staff to provide a post-election report and any contract documentation the court requests. The March 24 meeting was cited as the next formal opportunity for the court to hear the department and party leaders together.