Fort Bend County Extends Voting By One Hour In Today’s Primary Runoffs

BREAKING NEWS

At the request of Fort Bend County Elections Administrator John Oldham, District Judge James Shoemake has ordered Fort Bend County to extend polling hours throughout the county by one hour until 8 p.m. tonight. 

The request of an extension results from technical problems encountered this morning with the electronic poll books connected to the verification of voters in the registration database. 

As a result, long lines and delays within the polling place may have occurred. 

Polling hours will be extended to accommodate those who may have experienced delays and still need to cast their votes.

“The software problems were being worked around by mid-morning and corrected by early afternoon. However, some voters may have left the polls without casting their vote due to the delays encountered early this morning,” Oldham said. “By staying open until 8 p.m. we will provide the extra time for those eligible voters who wish to vote to do so.”

Today’s Fort Bend GOP primary runoff features a hotly-contested countywide race between Nina Schaefer and John Healey for district attorney, as well as a statewide runoff for Place 3 on the Texas Supreme Court and the District 10 member of the State Board of Education.

Fort Bend Republicans will also decide between incumbent Gary Geick and challenger Mary Ward for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2. That race has drawn some attention for the fact that Geick has been unable to preside over the JP court since suffering a stroke late last year; however, Geick has repeatedly said he is recuperating and will be able to fulfill his duties if re-elected.

Fort Bend County Democrats will be deciding who will challenge either Geick or Ward for the post. Aurelia Moore and R.J. Blue are in a runoff for the Democratic nomination for the Justice of the Peace position.