Title: Secrecy of the Ballot Resolution
Original CoS Document (slug): secrecy-of-the-ballot-resolution
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Attached File: Secrecy_of_the_Ballot_Resolution.docx
Created: 2024-02-29 12:39:01
Updated: 2025-02-28 19:00:00
Published: 2024-02-29 03:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:16:49.715261322
Whereas, concerned citizens involved in election integrity have discovered that the Secrecy of a voter’s ballot is compromised in counties that participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program (CPPP).
Whereas, Texas Election Code 122.001, Voting System Standards, (a) A voting system may not be used in an election unless the system: (1) preserves the secrecy of the ballot (3) operates safely, efficiently, and accurately and complies with the voting system standards adopted by the Election Assistance Commission; (4) is safe from fraudulent or unauthorized manipulation. (10) is capable of providing records from which the operation of the voting system may be audited.
Whereas, after an election the Tarrant County Elections Office and the Texas Secretary of State post on their website a Voter Roster of all the voters that cast a ballot in the county. The Voter Roster includes the voter’s name, precinct number, ballot style and voting center where the voter cast their ballot. Moreover, the voter’s ballot has the precinct number printed on it, in addition to the voter’s candidate and measure choices. In an Election where counties are participating in the CPPP, many voters travel outside of their precinct to vote, which leaves the voter and their vote vulnerable to being exposed. If a voter happens to be the only voter from his/her precinct who cast a ballot at a particular Countywide Voting Center, then their ballot can be singled out on the Voter Roster by precinct and Voting Center. The public can submit a Public Information request for the ballot images, or request a public inspection of the ballots at the Voting Center, match the precinct number on the ballot to the Voter Roster and the voter’s ballot and choices are no longer secret.
Whereas, On Election Day November 2022 General Election in the CPPP, Tarrant County had 13,521 voters who were identified on the Voter Roster as the only voters from their precinct that voted at a countywide voting center. Other counties and Elections that participate in the CPPP had the same vulnerabilities. In the November 2022 General Election a partial count of Early Voting was done and over 2,100 votes were identified. On Election Day in the same General Election, Travis County had 8,486 voters, Parker County had 256 voters and Ellis County had 264 voters who were identified as the only voters from their precinct that voted outside of their precinct at a countywide voting center.
Be it Resolved,
The Tarrant County Executive Committee and the Tarrant County GOP Chair call on the Tarrant County Commissioners to dissolve the Countywide Polling Program in all elections on election day.
Be it Further Resolved,
The Tarrant County Executive Committee and the Tarrant County GOP Chair call on the Tarrant County Elections Office and the Texas Secretary of State to post a warning on their website stating that the Countywide Polling Place Program compromises the Secrecy of the Voter’s ballot.
Be it Further Resolved,
The Tarrant County Executive Committee and the Tarrant County GOP Chair call on the State Legislature in the 2025 legislative session to abolish Countywide voting during early elections and abolish the Texas Election Code Sec. 43.007, Countywide Polling Place Program.
Supporters:
Susan Valliant, Precinct Chair 2174
Donna Baker, Precinct Chair 3545
Rosalie Escobedo, Precinct Chair 3216