HOUSTON – With Election Day approaching, Harris County election officials are testing thousands of pieces of voting equipment as part of an effort to demonstrate how ballots are handled and build public trust in the process.
But when KPRC 2 asked people at Discovery Green whether they trust elections, the answers were mixed.
“Well, local elections, I think I do,” Denise Bradley said. “I know folks who work in the elections division of Harris County and I trust them.”
Esteban Ramirez had a different response when asked the same question.
“As much as I can,” Ramirez said.
He said the competing claims and conversations surrounding elections can make it difficult to feel completely confident.
“There’s a lot of unknowns. There’s a lot of chatter,” Ramirez said. “So all we can do is just go out and vote and hope that everything goes right.”
Ramirez said seeing more of the people and work behind the process would help him feel more confident. Despite his uncertainty, he said he still plans to vote.
“That’s the only voice we have,” Ramirez said.
Testing every piece of equipment
Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said her office hopes to address those concerns by giving the public a clearer look at what happens before, during and after voting.
Election workers are conducting logic and accuracy testing at Harris County Election Headquarters ahead of the Nov. 3 general and special elections.
Hudspeth’s team said more than 10,000 pieces of voting equipment are expected to be sent across Harris County at more than 600 voting locations for the election and every piece will be tested before it reaches voters.
During the testing, workers run preset ballots through the equipment. Because they already know what the results should be, they can determine whether the equipment records and counts each ballot correctly.
Workers also check smaller details, including whether ballots print clearly enough to be read. They must also test more than 2,000 different versions of the ballot because the races and propositions a voter sees depend on where that person is registered.
“The whole point of this testing is, is to get ahead of it before it goes out in the field,” Hudspeth said.
The equipment is tested before being distributed and election workers conduct another test while setting up their Vote Centers.
“All of it is tested and prepared for early voting sites and even the election workers before setting up do another test before they actually allow voters to start voting,” Hudspeth said.
If a ballot does not print dark enough, workers determine whether the problem involves the ink or a larger issue with the equipment. Hudspeth said most problems identified during testing are minor and can be fixed at headquarters or with help from the county’s equipment vendor.
What happens if equipment stops working?
Technical support remains available once voting begins. Harris County also deploys field technicians to assist with equipment problems and supply requests during early voting and on Election Day.
“If a machine is not working for any reason, we have technical support at polling locations, and something that’s called cluster text in the field, within a five mile radius of certain election sites,” Hudspeth said. “Normally it is something where people can come in and mitigate right there.”
Hudspeth said equipment that cannot be repaired at a voting location can be securely returned to Election Headquarters. Replacement equipment can also be sent into the field.
An election security task force supports the process as well.
“We also have election security task force,” Hudspeth said. “It includes the constables, the sheriff, HPD, fire marshal, and all of those agencies to support any emergency management or security of the actual elections.”
Cameras and observers provide additional oversight
Hudspeth said cameras record operations inside Election Headquarters, allowing the county to review what happened in the facility.
“When you visit it from the time you enter the gate into the time you come in and leave this building, everything is under camera,” Hudspeth said. “There’s not one part of this operation that we can’t verify what’s going on at any time.”
Some cameras can be viewed by the public through the live-video section of HarrisVotes.com . Hudspeth said the feeds show parts of the operation, including mail-ballot processing and central counting.
The public can also review logic and accuracy test reports and other election documents on the county’s election reports page.
Hudspeth said members of the public can observe parts of the process in person. Representatives appointed by both major political parties also participate in oversight through Election Night.
“There are observers and appointed individuals by both political parties that are here throughout the process, through election night, until results are read that are observing,” Hudspeth said. “I don’t push green on results until both parties have agreed and actually initial that we have done the job.”
Hudspeth said members of the central count board appointed by the Harris County Republican and Democratic parties review testing paperwork, zero reports and other election materials. She said they review the process with the county clerk and sign off before results are sent.
“This is not only important to me, but I know how important it is to the people we serve each and every day,” Hudspeth said. “And so as we move forward, we will make sure that we allow everyone in to talk about the process, to see it for themselves. There is nothing to hide. Transparency is at the top of the list for me.”
Important election dates
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 5. Early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, and the deadline to apply for a ballot by mail is Oct. 23, according to the Texas secretary of state’s 2026 election calendar.
Voters can visit HarrisVotes.com for election information, sample ballots, voting locations, live video and results. Questions can also be directed to the Harris County Elections Department at 713-755-6965.
