Key Takeaways

• The Dallas County GOP dropped its plan to hand count ballots.
• Party leaders will use county voting machines instead.
• Hand count efforts needed thousands of workers and risked delayed results.
• Using machines avoids legal hassles and keeps results fast.

Dallas GOP Drops Hand Count Plan

The Dallas County Republican Party decided to abandon its hand count plan for the upcoming primary. Instead, the party will use the county’s voting equipment to tally all ballots. This shift comes after months of debate over the costs, staffing, and legal risks of a massive hand count.

Key Reasons Behind the Hand Count Shift

The GOP initially aimed to hand count thousands of ballots on Election Day. However, they faced major hurdles that made the plan too risky. Below, we explain why they changed course.

Planning a Hand Count Effort

In early December, party leaders said they raised over four hundred thousand dollars for a hand count. They also recruited more than one thousand volunteer counters. The goal was to count every vote by hand at neighborhood precincts. On paper, this idea seemed to give voters more transparency.

However, election experts warned that counting by hand is slow and prone to errors. In addition, Texas law requires parties to report results within twenty-four hours of polls closing. Thus, a hand count could push the party past the deadline and lead to court orders.

Legal and Logistical Hurdles

Under state law, if one party hand counts ballots, both must abandon vote centers. Instead, all voters must cast and count ballots at assigned precincts. Moreover, officials said the party needed at least three thousand trained workers. Yet they had fewer than half that number.

In addition, the Texas Secretary of State’s office warned that funding might not cover higher primary costs. Hand counts need more polling sites, more equipment, and more pay for workers. According to state rules, election workers must earn at least twelve dollars per hour. Large counts can run past midnight or even into the next day.

Why They Changed Course

Dallas County Republican Party Chair Allen West said discretion is the better part of valor. He explained that contracting with the county reduces legal and financial liabilities. Therefore, the party will use the county’s regular voting machines and procedures. As a result, both parties can keep using the same process.

Moreover, West noted that a hand count could put election judges in a tough legal spot. He said his team could not risk failing to hire enough counters. With early voting set to start soon, time was running out. Thus, the party opted for the safer, faster option.

Impact on Voters and Parties

This move means voters will see familiar voting equipment on Election Day. It also means that results should arrive within the usual timeframe. Had the party gone ahead with the hand count, some results might have trickled in late.

Democrats had planned to use machines to count their ballots. If Republicans had forced precinct-based voting, Democrats would have faced the same rules. It remains unclear if the move to contract with the county will lock Democrats into that system. Election officials have not yet clarified this point.

What Comes Next

The Republican Party is finalizing a contract with the county elections department. They expect to sign it soon. Once signed, both parties will run the primary using county machines.

Early voting will begin soon, and the primary day is March third. Voters can cast ballots at vote centers across Dallas County. Tallies should wrap up quickly, meeting the state’s reporting rules.

In the meantime, the GOP will reallocate funds raised for the hand count. Party leaders may use the resources for future voter outreach or other election tasks. They still plan to monitor the count closely, even if machines do the work.

Lessons for Future Elections

This episode highlights how challenging large hand counts can be. First, they demand extensive planning for staffing and security. Second, they carry a high risk of legal challenges if results are late. Third, they can strain local budgets.

At the same time, many voters value transparency in elections. Some believe hand counts offer more trust than machines. Yet, experts note machines have built-in checks and audits. In contrast, hand counts lack required audits and limit public observation.

Moving forward, parties may seek middle-ground solutions. For example, they could push for more open machine audits or better machine security. They might also train more poll workers in advance. In any case, the hand count debate is likely to continue well after this primary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a hand count?

A hand count means volunteers read and tally each ballot by hand, without using machines. This process can take much longer than machine counting and requires many trained workers.

Why did the Dallas GOP want a precinct-based hand count?

They believed it could boost transparency and trust in the election. State law also requires precinct-only voting if one party chooses to hand count, which they thought could shape election procedures.

How many workers does a large hand count need?

Election officials estimate at least three thousand trained counters for a county the size of Dallas. Fewer workers could cause delays and risk missing state reporting deadlines.

What benefits do voting machines offer?

Machines count votes quickly and reduce human error. They also come with checks and audits to verify tallies. Using machines helps meet strict reporting timelines and can be more cost-effective.