Preparations underway for Election Day in Harris County

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By ABC13

Sunday, November 3, 2013

HOUSTON

"I was very short handed until last night. I went down to the lab and got a bunch of volunteers," said John Moffit, elections judge

With early voting breaking turnout records, they're not quite sure what to expect on election day itself, but they do know they'll need to be familiar with the state's new Voter ID law. For the first time this year, every voter at the polls has to show a photo ID that matches the name on voter rolls.

"That can be their driver's license, that can be their military ID, that can be their personal ID," Harris County Clerk Stan Stannert explained.

Elections judges received extensive training in how to handle the Voter ID law. So far in early voting, elections officials say there have been very few problems.

"We had one that was an out-of-state ID, two that didn't have any ID, and I guess four that were people whose IDs had long expired," Stannert said.

Those without proper ID can vote provisionally. As for the names matching, that will be up to the judges.

"We also have a manual. We've gone to training the county has sponsored, and I don't anticipate any problems at all," Steve Dorman, elections judge, said.

But some judges, like Moffit, are less optimistic.

"You might look at two names and say they're not substantially the same. I might look at look at two names and say they're substantially the same," Moffit said.

That's a variable he thinks could lead to some voters being turned away.

"I think there are going to be some wrinkles," Moffit said. "I think some people are going to get very angry."

Here are the forms of ID that will be accepted when you vote: