Polls open in North Texas for historic election

DALLAS - The polls are now open for voters to pick the 45th president of the United States and decide on other important races.

Long lines are expected, especially during the early morning and evening rush hours, as thousands of North Texans head to the polls. Click here to find your polling location.

FOX 4’s Steve Noviello stood in the rain outside the Museum of Biblical Art, a polling location in North Dallas. He said the lines there weren’t too bad either because of the weather or the number of people who vote early.

In Collin County, more than half of all registered voters have already cast their ballot. Elections administrator Bruce Sherbet is hoping for a problem-free Election Day with few problems. He isn't worried about rigging complaints.

“Each one of our voting equipment machines has no internet connection in or out. They’re physically secured and closely monitored and sealed after they’re tested. So we have no concerns about that kind of thing happening here,” Sherbet said.

Voting did get off to a rough start in some locations. At the Lewisville Learning Center in Denton County people who arrived to vote at 7 a.m. were given paper ballots because the electronic machines weren’t working. Then the scanners for the paper ballots had problems. The problems have since been resolved and elections officials said all the paper ballots will be scanned.

All voters do need some sort of identification. Those who don’t have a photo ID can sign a document and show some sort of alternate identifying material such as a utility bill, birth certificate or recent pay stub.

The Department of Justice also has representatives on site in polling places in North Texas and across the country to make sure there are no voter fraud or intimidation issues. The observers will be checking that the booths are ADA compliant, that there are bilingual clerks on standby and they’ll keep an eye on voters who are turned away.

Polls close Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. Everyone who is in line before 6:59 p.m. will be allowed to vote regardless of the time.

FOX 4 News will share the results as soon as they are released on air, online and on social media.

Voter Information
www.votetexas.gov

Dallas County - www.dallascountyvotes.org
Tarranty County - access.tarrantcounty.com/en/elections.html
Collin County - www.collincountytx.gov/elections/Pages/default.aspx
Denton County - www.votedenton.com

DOJ Election Day Complaints
1-800-253-3931 or voting.section@usdoj.gov
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-monitor-polls-28-states-election-day