Voting Protocol

Across the state, hundreds of reports are coming in from voters detailing experiences of ballot selections being changed from the voter’s input when compared to the printed ballot.

Many voters are catching the errors, but there is great concern that many are not. If you have already voted, please take the initiative to share this information with those you are encouraging to vote. Please feel free to forward this to as many people as you would like.

The following protocol is important to protect the vote and document evidence.

1. Every voter should take a dated sample ballot with them already marked up with an intended vote per race and a pen.
2. Secure a printed ballot after inputting votes per race in the voting machine. Please make note of the brand of machine and the serial number of the machine, if possible. It should be either Hart InterCivic or ES&S. If it is Dominion, do not proceed with that machine. The Texas Secretary of State prohibited Dominion machines in 2018. Write on the sample ballot the printed voter “access code” you are provided with before you are given a voter machine, the machine name, and number on the sample ballot. Do not attempt to image anything while in the polls. The Texas legislature prohibited this by statute in 2018.
3. Check the printed ballot from the voting machine to reconcile with the intended vote. If all is correct, cast your vote in the scanner and secure confirmation that your vote was received. Please make a note on your sample ballot as to whether an election worker asked you to check your ballot before inserting it into the scanner. Leave with your sample ballot and your paper Access Code which notes the date, time, location and precinct where you voted and preserve them.
4. If there is an error, immediately mark it down on the sample ballot and write out beside each race which candidate(s)’ name(s) were printed in error (differing from the candidates you selected). Make these notes next to the pre-selected candidate you have already marked on your sample ballot. Also please write on the sample ballot the alpha numeric codes followed by the numeric codes making up the ballot codes on the upper right-hand side of the ballot formatted as such: xxxx-xxxx-xxxx (0-000000-000000000000). This should be opposite to the QR Code. Do not attempt to image anything at the polls. Please also write down any ballot number provided.
5. After writing on the sample ballot the error(s) and codes, contact the election judge and explain the problem. Do not give the judge the sample ballot. It is fine to display the sample ballot while explaining the problem but do not lose custody of the sample ballot. Be sure to keep your marked sample ballot with errors noted and preserve it along with your Access Code.
6. Ask the election judge to spoil the printed ballot, doing so in your presence. Request to use another voting machine to cast your votes and to secure a second printed ballot to compare with your actual votes. Repeat the process until you have successfully cast your vote. Make a note of the names of the polling place officials who assisted you.
7. After you have voted, contact the Texas Secretary of State 800-252-8683, the Republican Election Integrity Hotline 512-991-0117, and the Republican Party of Texas hotline 512-553-1080 to explain your experience.
8. Write down in a journal any notes you wish to preserve about your voting experience and what happened when you reported your experience to the hotlines listed above. Keep your notes together with your sample ballot and Access Code for future reference and use.
9. These are steps you can legally take to preserve the traceability of your cast vote record.
10. Please remember, anything or anyone associated with your voting attempt who obstructs or frustrates your right to be heard has violated your Constitutional rights.