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Newton Today
By the People, for the People
Newton County Recount Underway After Ballot Error Discovered
Voting vendor ES&S self-reported the issue, which affected Democratic primary results
Mar. 11, 2026 at 3:26am
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A recount is underway in Newton County, Texas after election officials discovered a ballot error provided by voting system vendor Election Systems & Software (ES&S) that affected Democratic primary vote totals. The issue was self-reported by the vendor and flagged by the Texas Secretary of State. County officials say the recount is intended to ensure every ballot is accurately counted.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the importance of election integrity and the need for robust quality control measures by voting technology vendors. It also raises questions about the reliability of electronic voting systems and the transparency of the electoral process.
The details
The ballot error was discovered by ES&S, the voting system vendor, who then alerted the Texas Secretary of State. A district judge has signed a court order authorizing the recount, which will only impact the statewide Democratic primary results and not local races. County officials say the recount process was briefly delayed due to unspecified issues with the voting machines.
- The ballot error was discovered by ES&S and reported to the Texas Secretary of State after the March primary election.
- A district judge signed a court order authorizing the recount on Monday, March 11, 2026.
- The recount was expected to begin earlier this week but was briefly delayed.
The players
Election Systems & Software (ES&S)
The voting system vendor that provided the ballot with the error and self-reported the issue to state officials.
Texas Secretary of State
State officials who were alerted to the ballot error by the voting vendor and are overseeing the recount process in Newton County.
Ronnie Cochran
The Newton County Judge who stated the goal of the recount is to ensure every vote is accurately counted.
What they’re saying
“We just want to make sure everybody's vote is counted.”
— Ronnie Cochran, Newton County Judge
“The issue in Newton County was caused by ES&S accidentally providing a ballot that contained an error; there is no software issue with the machine.”
— Election Systems & Software
What’s next
The recount process is expected to continue in the coming days, with representatives from the Texas Secretary of State's office and ES&S overseeing the effort to ensure all ballots are accurately counted.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the need for rigorous quality control and transparency measures in the electoral process, particularly when it comes to the technology and vendors involved. It also highlights the importance of public confidence in the integrity of elections, which officials in Newton County are working to uphold through the recount.
