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Harris County’s election procedures are under scrutiny once again. The Secretary of State’s Office has assigned state inspectors to monitor the handling and counting of ballots and election records in the county. A recent audit highlighted various issues that occurred during the 2021 and 2022 elections in Harris County.
The audit pointed out failures in voter registration list maintenance, inadequate training for election workers, and violations of the law in providing ballot paper at polling locations. It also noted significant equipment malfunctions during the 2021 election due to a lack of proper training for election workers.
Former Harris County Elections Administrator, Clifford Tatum, did not immediately respond to the audit’s findings. Current County Clerk, Teneshia Hudspeth, expressed a commitment to addressing the concerns raised in the audit.
The Secretary of State’s Office acknowledged the efforts of current Harris County election officials in rectifying the identified problems and improving election procedures.
Audits Began after the 2020 Election
Following the 2020 presidential election, the state initiated audits to examine county election procedures and ensure compliance with election laws. Harris County, known for focusing conspiracy theories, underwent audits in 2021 and 2022.
Despite no evidence of widespread fraud, the audits highlighted issues in Harris County’s election processes, including improper chain of custody procedures and discrepancies in electronic poll book data.
‘Put a Process in Place’
Harris County has implemented measures to address the challenges identified during the audits. A compliance team has been established to oversee the election process, digitize records, and prepare for future audits.
Contact Natalia Contreras at ncontreras@votebeat.org for more information on election administration and voting access.
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