Tarrant County Announces Successful Post-Election Hand Count Audit of the SD9 Runoff Election

Fort Worth, TX – February 19, 2026 – Tarrant County Elections Administration is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Post-Election Hand Count Audit (PEHCA) for the recent election with all hand count results matching the electronic results. This audit was conducted in accordance with Section 127.201 of the Texas Election Code and was authorized by the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Division to be expanded to include all early voting locations, all election day locations, and all absentee ballot by mail precincts.

Unlike a traditional manual recount, which is typically triggered when a tie occurs or requested by a candidate, this hand count audit is a proactive transparency measure designed to verify the accuracy of electronic tabulation systems. The PEHCA process involves selecting a random sample of ballots and manually counting those ballots to compare against machine tabulation results, ensuring the integrity of the election without altering certified outcomes. The physical counting of the ballots is done by the Ballot Board, which consists of individuals appointed by political parties, who do not work for Elections Administration.

The decision to expand the audit, by the Elections Administrator, reflects Tarrant County’s commitment to election security and public confidence. It also addresses concerns related to the accuracy of election tabulation machines, which are widely used across Texas. This successful audit demonstrates that Tarrant County Elections voting systems are operating reliably, and results reported on Election Night are accurate and trustworthy.
“Election integrity is paramount,” said Clint Ludwig, Elections Administrator for Tarrant County. “We want voters to know our systems are accurate and secure. This expanded audit is an extra layer of assurance that every vote was counted correctly, and our elections tabulation equipment performed as designed.”

FAQ: PEHCA vs. Manual Recount

Q1: What is a Post-Election Hand Count Audit (PEHCA)?

• A PEHCA is a process required by Texas law to verify the accuracy of electronic voting systems. It involves manually counting a sample of ballots after the election and comparing those counts to the machine tabulation results. This is done for transparency and quality assurance, not to change the outcome.

Q2: How is PEHCA different from a manual recount?

• Trigger: A manual recount occurs when a candidate requests it or when a tie occurs. PEHCA is a mandatory process after every election.

• Scope: A recount involves counting all ballots in a race, while PEHCA uses a randomly selected sample of ballots from early voting locations, election day locations and absentee ballot by mail precincts.

• Outcome: A recount can change election results; PEHCA cannot. It is strictly for verifying machine accuracy.

Q3: Why is this important for election equipment?

• Election tabulation systems are widely used in Texas. PEHCA provides an independent check to confirm these machines are functioning as designed and reported results are accurate.