The Dallas County Republican Party has abandoned its plan to hand-count thousands of ballots in the upcoming March 3 primary, choosing instead to contract with the county elections department for machine tabulation.
The announcement comes after months of preparations for a manual count, which would have required voters to cast ballots at assigned precincts rather than countywide vote centers.
Party Chair Allen West said in a social media statement that the decision allows Republicans to “conduct a precinct-based, community, separate Election Day electoral process” while reducing liabilities.
“In this case, discretion is the better part of valor,” he added.
The reversal avoids potential delays in reporting results for high-profile races, including the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, under Texas’ 24-hour deadline. Political parties oversee ballot counting in primaries but must meet the reporting requirement, and officials have cautioned that court intervention could be needed if hand-counts cause setbacks.
West told reporters the party had recruited fewer than 1,500 workers but needed at least 3,000 for the effort.
“We cannot take that risk of not being able to have the appropriate amount of counters because it would put our election judges in an untenable legal position,” he said.
With 63 days until the primary and early voting set to begin on February 16, unresolved issues around staffing, training, security, facilities, and funding prompted the shift.
Texas law stipulates that if one party opts for hand-counting, both must revert to precinct-specific voting, eliminating flexible vote centers. Democrats had intended to use voting machines, but a Republican hand-count would have compelled them to follow suit on precinct rules. It’s not yet clear whether the GOP’s precinct-based approach would apply to Democrats; the county elections department did not immediately provide clarification.
In December, West reported raising over $400,000 and enlisting more than 1,000 volunteers for the initiative. But election administrators and experts have long highlighted the challenges of large-scale hand-counts, noting that they are expensive, time-consuming, error-prone, and lack mandatory audits or broad public oversight under state rules. Workers must earn at least $12 per hour, and counting must proceed nonstop after polls close, often extending into the night.
The push for hand-counts among some Republicans stems from assertions by President Donald Trump and others that voting machines are inaccurate. The Texas Secretary of State’s office has also signaled limited funds to cover elevated primary expenses if multiple areas pursue manual methods, which demand extra polling sites and personnel.
By partnering with the county, Republicans can maintain established procedures and equipment for both parties. West said a contract is in progress and is anticipated to be finalized on Wednesday.
