Election Day 2022: Polling locations report minor issues delaying voting

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Election Day headed into the home stretch Tuesday afternoon, but not before a brief pause at one polling location and a total closure at another.

When voters showed up to some of the Fort Bend County locations first thing in the morning, they were told there was a delay, thanks to the time change.

Fort Bend County Elections Administrator John Oldham said the equipment was delivered last week, but when laptops were started up today, the weekend change back to standard time caused an issue.

A technician was brought out to the Great Oaks Baptist Church in Richmond. The fix took about 30 minutes, we're told, and by then, a line had formed of residents waiting to cast their votes.

Oldham says they don't have information on how many machines specifically had this glitch. He believes about 12 locations were impacted by the delay.

Oldham added that they haven't had issues like this before, with the time change occurring just during the weekend before Election Day.

Everything was up and running before 9 a.m., according to officials.

Oldham said about 8,500 people cast their vote in the first two hours.

In Harris County, the polling location at the Melrose Park Community Center was forced to close due to "issues outside of our control," according to a tweet from Harris County Elections.

Voters in the area were told to vote at Hardy Street Senior Citizens Center at 11901 West Hardy Road.