WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — Williamson County officials say a mistake on ballots in the Leander area was a result of human error.
Officials say hundreds of ballots for Emergency Service District 9 were missing a sales tax proposition, which is aimed at increasing the amount of sales tax captured by ESD #9 to help address needs in the growing area.
"This mistake was caused by human error and the individual responsible is no longer working for Williamson County," County Judge Bill Gravell said.
According to the county, a review showed nearly 900 voters live in homes that were annexed into ESD #9 in 2021, but weren't programmed to receive the sales tax proposition. During the first three days of early voting, 18 people submitted ballots who weren't given the proposition.
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"To those 18 voters, I want to say that there is nothing worse that can happen than for you not to be able to vote in an election when you should," Gravell said. "To you, we apologize and pledge to be laser focused on the solution today and for elections in the future.”
Officials say if a voter feels their ballot should contain the proposition, to contact an election worker immediately. Meanwhile, starting on Oct. 27, the ESD #9 proposition will appear on a separate ballot to be counted by a separate machine.
Anyone with questions regarding ESD #9's sales and use tax proposition should contact the county at 512-943-3820.