HOUSTON—On Tuesday morning, some Democratic voters were unable to cast a ballot at their designated precinct.
Voters called 11 News, saying that Precinct 347 at Vincent Miller Intermediate School in Pasadena had not opened at 7:00 a.m., the scheduled start time for voting in the Texas Primary Election.
Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gerry Birnberg said an election judge failed to report to that location. According to Birnberg, voters in that precinct were directed to Precinct 755, at the Genoa Staff Development Center on Almeda Genoa.
Voters at Precinct 347 said they were given a number to call, but they couldn’t get through.
"I am trying to vote, but I am not getting a chance, so right now there’s actually people leaving for the Democrat party," Elizabeth Elisondo said.
A Democratic election judge also didn’t show up at Precinct 709, which, according to the Harris County Clerk’s Web site, is located at Copperfield Estates on West Rd. That precinct was consolidated to Precinct 651 at Holmsley Elementary School on Hudson Oaks Drive. All polls are scheduled to remain open until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidates were scattered across the state, offering last-minute campaign pitches and awaiting the election results.
Both Democratic candidates, former Houston Mayor Bill White and businessman Farouk Shami, were drumming up support in Houston.
Republican candidate Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was campaigning at a church in Dallas, which is where Gov. Rick Perry was also spending Election Day.
GOP candidate Debra Medina was expected to be in Wharton all day.
