Texas Republicans seek to block election certification

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 13:27 · Archive

Republicans in a Texas county have filed a lawsuit asking for ballots to be hand-counted before certification.

Days before the US midterm elections, the Potter County Republican Party and its chairman, Daniel Rogers, have filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to stop certification of Texas election results. The plaintiffs claim potential interference by artificial intelligence or malicious actors could compromise the results of next Tuesday's elections and seek a hand count of every ballot from every precinct in the state before certification happens.

The lawsuit alleges voting machines contain components made in China that would allow them to be manipulated. 'If a component is tampered with during manufacturing, it could serve as a point of entry for unlawful and malfeasance hackers, allowing for the possibility of synchronized attacks across multiple election machines and jurisdictions,' the lawsuit stated. However, the legal complaint does not specify whether any voting machines in Potter County or elsewhere in Texas have actually been compromised. The plaintiffs acknowledged in their filing that no previous election in the county was 'altered' by a third party.

Separately, Republicans in Tarrant County near Dallas have cut the number of election-day polling places by nearly 30 per cent, a decision being challenged in court. This follows last year's state-wide redistricting, which was designed to benefit Republicans. Several polls show Democrat James Talarico narrowly leading Republican Ken Paxton in Texas's US Senate race.

How it is being reported

• Texas Republicans accused of changing electoral rules ahead of midtermsWith the US midterm elections approaching, Republicans in Texas are being accused of changing electoral rules in their favour. In Tarrant County, near Dallas, they've cut the number of election-day polling places by nearly 30 percent. The decision is being challenged in court and adds to last year's state-wide redistricting, a move designed to benefit Republicans. But the measures could also help galvanise the Democratic opposition. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent reports, with Wassim Cornet.France 24 · 30 Oct, 13:07
• Texas Republican group seeks to block certification of state’s electionRepublicans in a Texas county have filed a lawsuit asking for ballots in the state's midterm races to be hand-counted.Al Jazeera · 29 Oct, 18:40

In this story: Potter County Republican Party · Daniel Rogers · James Talarico · Ken Paxton · Texas · Tarrant County

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