At a Glance
- Dallas County GOP will use machine counting for March primary.
- They abandoned a planned hand ballot recount due to insufficient volunteers.
- Current volunteer count is 1,300-1,500, far below the needed 3,000.
- Why it matters: The shift could affect how ballots are tallied and signal a broader move away from manual recounts.
In a surprising shift, Dallas County Republicans have decided to forgo a hand ballot recount for the upcoming March primary, citing a lack of volunteers. The party will instead contract with the county to rely on machine counting, marking the end of a high-profile experiment in manual tallying.
The Decision
Chair Lt. Col. Allen West announced on Facebook that the GOP would no longer pursue a hand recount. He cited a shortage of trained counters and the risk of leaving election judges in a legal bind. The party had aimed to recruit 3,000 workers but could only secure 1,300-1,500.
Voices from the GOP
Lt. Col. Allen West stated:
> “We are currently tapped out at approximately 1,300-1,500 individuals for hand counting. With only 63 days until the election, that number is woefully short of what is required. The greatest risk would be to continue without having trained, qualified, and ready counters, which would place our election judges in an untenable legal position.”
Abraham George said in a recent interview:
> “So this is an opportunity for us to learn what mistakes we make, if we make any, and also to see if it is possible, how much it’s going to cost us at the end of the day, you know, who can do it, and how many volunteers we need.”
Democratic Response
Kendall Scudder said:
> “I think when you elect clowns, you should expect circuses,” and added that the hand-count effort was a fool’s errand. “We’re going to use modern technology because it is the year 2025, and that’s how we will operate. We will have an efficient election to the best of our ability, and Republicans are trying to stand in our way of doing that.”
Voting Timeline
Early voting will begin on February 17th, giving voters a chance to cast ballots before the March primary.
Key Takeaways
- The GOP will rely on machine counting for the March primary.
- Volunteer shortfall (1,300-1,500 vs. 3,000 needed) forced the change.
- The decision marks the end of a statewide experiment in manual recounts.
With the machine-counting approach in place, Dallas County voters can expect a more standardized ballot tally, while the GOP reflects on the logistical challenges that halted its hand-count ambition.
