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How to Request Texas Election Results

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Derek Willis edited this page Jun 25, 2018 · 3 revisions

Here is the process we follow when asking for precinct-level election results. First, there are a few things you should know.

  1. County clerks and other officials are trying to do the right thing, often with few resources. Be patient and kind - you're representing OpenElections.
  2. We're not interested in voter history files, or anything that has personally identifying information. That stuff requires filling out an affidavit. If someone asks you to fill out an affidavit, tell them that you're not seeking voter history records, just precinct-level election results.
  3. You can fill out an official public records request, but often you don't have to. Ask first if you can just get them.
  4. We want official results, and if possible we'd like to get a breakdown by type of vote (early voting/election day is the most common).

Here's how the process works for a county:

  1. Check the county's website. Usually that means finding the clerk's section or the election administrator's section. See if they have posted results online. If so, grab those files.
  2. If not, if there's an email address for the clerk or election administrator, send an email. Here's a template:

I'm looking for the precinct-by-precinct canvass reports for {County Name} County for the general, primary, primary runoff elections in 2016. Can those be emailed or faxed to me?

Thank you,
{Your Name}
OpenElections
  1. If you don't find an email address or we've already tried email without a response, call the phone number for the clerk or election administrator. You can use the template above as a guide for what to say. Leave a voicemail if you need to.
  2. If the person offers to email results files to you, tell them to send them to [email protected]. If they ask to fax them, our number is 301-971-4453. If they ask for a mailing address, email us at [email protected] and we'll be in touch with them.
  3. If the person you speak to tells you that there's a fee for election results, ask how much it will cost, and what methods of payment they accept. Then email us at [email protected] with that information and we'll take it from there.

FAQ

  • How often should I contact a county if it doesn't respond? In some cases, you might have to email or call 2-3 times before you get a response. Waiting a few days or a week when using the same medium is a good practice. If you email and are told to call, call ASAP.

  • What races should I ask for? As a general rule, ask for the complete results file.

  • What if I'm told that the person can't make copies? Ask if they can take photographs of the results documents and send those to you.

  • When in doubt, ask us!

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