A candidate for the school board at Richardson Independent School District (RISD) is accused of violating Texas law regarding activities allowed near polling places.
Rachel McGowan is one of three candidates vying for the District 5 seat. On April 29, Dallas City Councilmember for District 10, Adam McGough, posted a picture to Facebook that showed McGowan inserting her ballot into a voting machine. Early voting was underway at the time, and McGough asked that everyone prioritize voting in the post’s caption.
However, according to Texas election law, “persons are not allowed to use wireless communications devices within 100 feet of the voting stations.” This includes any devices that can record sounds or images, such as cellphones, cameras, tablets, or laptops.
“Rachel McGowen (sic) and Adam McGough should be knowledgeable of the laws regarding voting and that it is illegal to take pictures within a voting location,” RISD resident Mercedi Hale told The Dallas Express in an email.
Hale pointed to the Texas Education Agency website, which states that school board members must “uphold all laws.”
“It is very concerning to see a board member candidate breaking the law while voting for herself to be in a position that requires she uphold all laws,” Hale added. “A city council member and board member candidate should be setting an example of being a law abiding citizen instead of flaunting their lawbreaking actions.”
Additionally, Hale noted that McGowan was wearing her campaign t-shirt in one of the pictures before covering up the shirt while inside the polling place. Texas election law also prohibits expressing a preference for any candidate inside a polling place, including any promotional clothing.
“It seems she is well aware of there being laws associated with the voting process,” said Hale.
The picture of McGowan in the polling place was still on Facebook until at least May 3, the last day of early voting.
Facebook user Mary Crouse Young commented on the post on May 3, urging McGough to take the picture down.
“Let’s encourage voting without condoning illegal voting habits,” Crouse Young wrote.
As of May 6, the post remains on McGough’s page, but the image featuring McGowan has been removed.
The Dallas Express reached out to Councilman McGough and school board candidate McGowan, but no response had been received from either party as of press time.
Election day for the RISD School Board race is May 7.
Oh, I’m sure that this is MUCH worse that trying to overthrow the government of the United States of America by force or violence …