City’s website posted incorrect polling details for voters Nov. 6 in ‘disturbing’ error

A city council candidate said he contacted Tarrant County election officials after he found incorrect information for election day polling locations on Watauga’s website.

Scott Prescher, who is seeking the Place 1 seat in a special election to fill an unexpired council term, provided a screen shot of the city’s website to the Star-Telegram that said voters could only vote at City Hall on election day, Nov. 6.

The site now says: On Election Day, registered City of Watauga citizens may vote their specific precincts throughout Watauga.

“I find it disturbing. If it’s not intentional, it’s just a gross level of incompetence,” Prescher said.

However, Bradley Fraley, a spokesman for the city, said in an email to the Star-Telegram that the error was corrected as soon as city officials learned of the mistake.

“The content on this page was copied from the May election and this error was inadvertently” overlooked, Fraley wrote.

Tarrant County elections administrator Heider Garcia confirmed that his office received a call Friday morning about the incorrect voting information on Watauga’s web site.

“We were informed about the website showing wrong information. We informed the city and they corrected it. I see no reason to escalate this further,” Garcia said.

Prescher said he was concerned that voters would show up at City Hall on election day, thinking it was the correct polling location and then learn they would need to go to their specific precinct.

“It shouldn’t take Tarrant County elections officials to call the city and say hey, you’ve got incorrect information,” Prescher said.

This story was originally published October 5, 2018 at 4:27 PM.