Heading into the presidential election this November, Ruben Jimenez said concerns about election integrity have lingered in the back of his mind.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to vote and do all that, but there鈥檚 always that question in the back of your head: 鈥業s this going to be an honest election?鈥欌�� Jimenez told the Report.
The 78-year-old Fort Worth resident will serve as an alternate elections judge in the coming election. In anticipation, Jimenez wanted to participate in a public test of Tarrant County鈥檚 voting systems. He was one of a handful of residents who joined election officials, poll workers and members of the county testing board Sept. 16 to see how the process works, test the system鈥檚 accuracy and ask questions about the county鈥檚 election results.
After casting a fake ballot to test voting equipment, Jimenez said he鈥檚 not entirely sure that his concerns have been quelled, but he鈥檚 glad the county opened the test to the public.
This is the third consecutive year that Tarrant County officials have opened the state-mandated test of its voting system to the public. The test is designed to ensure that every ballot cast will be accurately printed and every voting machine will work correctly come Nov. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 21.
Former elections administrator Heider Garcia, who now serves as , began the practice to that elections are not rigged and instill public trust in election integrity. Garcia resigned from his position in April 2023, citing his concern that he couldn鈥檛 run a fair, unbiased election under Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O鈥橦are, who denied pressuring Garcia to quit.
New elections administrator Clint Ludwig assumed the role in August 2023 after working as chief deputy of the Tarrant County Clerk鈥檚 Office. He told the Report he鈥檚 confident that, with the help of the many staff and volunteers, the county will be able to execute a fair election.
鈥�(My) mindset moving into the election is 鈥楾his is my job, and I鈥檓 here to do it,鈥� and we鈥檙e going to make sure that we do everything, that we follow the laws, follow the rules,鈥� Ludwig said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very confident that we鈥檙e going to be able to do a great job 鈥� It is a daunting task, but it鈥檚 one that I believe we鈥檙e ready for.鈥�
Although the county isn鈥檛 required to open the test to the public, he wanted to continue the tradition in an effort to maintain public trust.
鈥淪ometimes doing the right thing, you got to do the hard thing,鈥� Ludwig said. 鈥淭his is more work for us. It鈥檚 more work for the team, but it鈥檚 just the right thing to do for the public, and that鈥檚 what we try to do is what鈥檚 right for the public.鈥�
During the test, residents were able to cast fake ballots, labeled 鈥渟ample ballot鈥� in red, using two voting machines. Participants could also cast absentee ballots into a drop box.
To test the system鈥檚 accuracy, voters could cast multiple ballots and were encouraged to make mistakes on their ballots. Some participants under- or over-voted while others jotted down ineligible candidates.
Arlington resident Leigh Ann Schenk, 64, wrote the actor 鈥淭om Cruise鈥� on the write-in portion of her ballot 鈥� 鈥渏ust for fun, and just to see what it would do,鈥� she said. As expected, the system flagged her vote as ineligible.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of what I wanted to see, what it would catch,鈥� Schenk said.
An attorney who plans to serve as a poll watcher in November, Schenk said she was disappointed that the public test drew a low turnout. However, she personally feels more confident in fulfilling her volunteer role in the coming election.
鈥淣ow that I鈥檝e seen it, I can see what they鈥檙e supposed to be doing, and I know what I鈥檓 looking for,鈥� she said.
Monday鈥檚 turnout of about a dozen was standard for the county, Ludwig said, adding that they held a public test before the primaries that drew a larger crowd. That could be why there were fewer people Monday, he said, because those interested already had their questions answered in the spring.
Jimenez is waiting until the election plays out to decide whether he feels it was fair.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad they鈥檙e letting us in, but we鈥檙e gonna have to wait and see,鈥� Jimenez said.
Voters will begin heading to the polls in just over a month. Early voting will run from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, with Election Day on Nov. 5. The last day to is Oct. 7, and the last day to apply to vote by mail is Oct. 25.
You may check to see if you鈥檙e registered to vote through the Texas Secretary of State鈥檚 .
Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org or .
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .
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