Texas GOP Tells Voters Not to Leave Until Ballot Is in the Scanner

The Republican Party of Texas says it has received reports of voters being turned away "across multiple counties" on Election Day because of "technological issues" and "voting equipment malfunctions."

Chairwoman D'rinda Randall urged voters not to leave a polling site until they have personally deposited their ballot into the scanner or the emergency bin. Voters should not hand a ballot to an election worker, she said, and should ask the presiding election judge for help. The state party and the Republican National Committee are looking into the reports, and Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden has been notified.

The RNC said it is "not correct" for election workers to tell voters to come back after equipment malfunctions are resolved. Reporters had noted longer-than-normal wait times, especially in North Texas, before the party issued its statements. Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate, is aware of the situation.

The party's reports did not name specific counties or describe the malfunctions in detail, so the scale remains unverified. Voters who hit a problem should stay put and ask for the election judge.