No response from Uvalde County Election Office on media request to receive election results on Texas Primary election night

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:13:04 +0000

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top picture was taken in October during the 2023 early voting period outside of the Ssgt. Wille de Leon Civic Center.

On February 9th, 2024, the Uvalde Hesperian sent an email to Uvalde County Elections Administrator Melissa Jones requesting equal access to the Uvalde County Election returns once the unofficial totals are available. As of March 1st, the Uvalde Hesperian has not received a response from Jones.

“Ms. Jones ,

Good morning.

As the early voting. For the March primaries are fast approaching, and the election will be here soon I hereby request that the Uvalde County Election vote totals be made available to me DBA the Uvalde Hesperian as early as the they become available.

I am aware that your office provides these results to the Uvalde Leader-News on the evening of each respective Election Day.

I hereby request the same courtesy be extended to me and the Uvalde Hesperian.

I also request a response to this email acknowledging receipt of this email and if your office will comply with my request for election results.

If for some reasons, this request cannot be honored please let me know including the reason it cannot be facilitated. Thank you.”

On February 16, 2024, the Uvalde Hesperian mailed a certified letter to the Uvalde County Elections Office with the same request and asking for a response.

The Uvalde Hesperian is currently waiting for a response to its request for the Uvalde County Elections unofficial results for the upcoming Tuesday, March 5th Democratic and Republican vote totals at the same time as other local media provided this information.

The post No response from Uvalde County Election Office on media request to receive election results on Texas Primary election night appeared first on Uvalde Hesperian.

May, Shall, Must: Electronic Voting Systems in Texas

admin — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 14:13:41 +0000

Picture of voting machine photo credit : https://abc13.com/texas-election-voting-problems-in-straight-ticket-republican/4556377/

Photo Credit: Diana Olvedo-Karau

The Uvalde County Republican Women (UCRW) held an informational meeting on Thursday night in Uvalde, Texas. The meeting was open to the public and was partially intended to help people learn more about the certification of Electronic Voting Systems in Texas.

UCRW president Emma Trimble welcomed those in attendance, including Uvalde County Commissioner, Mariano Pargas and his wife Frances. Commissioner Pargas was invited to the meeting by Uvalde County Republican Party Chair, Rhonda Vigil, and chose to attend to hear the presentation by Jarrett Woodward regarding the Electronic Voting System concerns of voters across Texas.

The focus of Woodward’s presentation was centered on Texas Administrative Code 81.61 – Condition for Approval of Electronic Voting Systems, which clearly outlines the requirements for and responsibilities of Electronic Voting Systems used in elections in Texas. Woodward stated that the issue at heart is wrongfully certified and adopted Electronic Voting Systems being used in elections across Texas place into question the validity of election results as far back as 2015, and likely further. Attempts to address the concerns of voters across Texas with the Secretary of State, have fallen on deaf ears. Moving several groups to file lawsuits against approximately 30 counties so far, to force local county commissioners to address their concerns.

UCRW President Trimble has reached out to Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell to begin the conversation regarding the concerns surrounding the Electronic Voting Systems. Woodward has also spoken to Judge Mitchell and Commissioner John Yeackle. Every effort will be made in Uvalde County by Uvalde County Republicans to work with Uvalde County Commissioners to address these concerns and to request that Uvalde County utilize paper ballots only, until such a time as the Electronic Voting System is properly certified, as required by State statute.

State statute gives final authority for the adoption of the Electronic Voting System used during elections (except Primary Elections) to County Commissioners; making them the last line of defense for maintaining voter integrity within the system. It also places County Commissioners in the position of accountability to the citizens of Texas for the Electronic Voting System used during elections, and at this time those systems are wrongfully certified and therefore should not continue to be used.

The concerns raised by Woodward are not a partisan issue. The issue affects every single voter in Texas, regardless of party affiliation. It is incumbent on all party leadership across Texas to do what they were elected to do, assure that fair and secure elections are the norm in Texas. Further it is time to demand that the State of Texas begin the process to correct the problems that exist in the Electronic Voting System, following the laws already on the books and enforcing them where necessary.

Diana Olvedo-Karau

The post May, Shall, Must: Electronic Voting Systems in Texas appeared first on Uvalde Hesperian.

Voting Archives - Uvalde Hesperian

No response from Uvalde County Election Office on media request to receive election results on Texas Primary election night

Should only one local media outlet be provided exclusive access to unofficial election result totals on Election Night?

May, Shall, Must: Electronic Voting Systems in Texas

by Diana Olvedo-Karau