In a county that’s become a “hotbed” of mail ballot voter fraud, Republicans were forced to file a cease and desist letter against Democrats blocking access to the mail ballot review process during the first week of early voting.
Dallas County Republican Party General Counsel Elizabeth Alvarez charged in the letter that county Democratic election officials — including Russell Miller, chairman of the Signature Verification Committee (an extension of the Early Voting Ballot Board), and Elections Administrator Toni Pippins-Poole — are violating Texas Election Code by obstructing Republican poll watchers and members of the ballot board from taking notes or fully observing the mail ballot review and verification process:
Pursuant to Section 33.056(c) and (d) a poll watcher is “entitled to inspect the returns and other records prepared by the election officers at the location at which the watcher is serving,” and “a watcher may not be prohibited from making notes while on duty.” This prohibition on the review of the information and the prohibition on taking notes is an impermissible violation of the Texas Election Code, and we request that this action cease and desist immediately. . . .
Republican Members of the ballot board wish to take their own notes regarding the presence of assistants on mail-in ballots, but have been repeatedly told no by Chairman Russel Miller, and in fact some have had their notes forcibly removed from them by Chairman Miller. The Republican members of the Ballot Board and signature verification committee have the right to take whatever notes they deem necessary, and the Chair does not have the statutory authority to prevent that.
Government watchdog group Direct Action Texas, which first reported on the violations taking place inside Dallas County’s elections office, explained the importance of taking notes during the ballot review process in order to detect unlawful activity.
The letter, addressed to Miller on Wednesday, demands that he follow the law, cease blocking poll watchers from observing the ballot board’s activities, and allow watchers and ballot board members to take and keep notes on the proceedings.
The full letter can be read here.
DCRP advises voters who see anything suspicious while at their polling place to ask the election judge for a complaint form and fill it out, call the Dallas County Elections Department at (214) 819-6300 to report what they saw, and email Kathryn@dallasgop to report what they saw and how they reacted.
