Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — Hidalgo County residents and members of the media will have an opportunity Thursday to observe the testing of voting equipment that will be used in the Nov. 3, 2026, General and Local Entities Elections.
The Hidalgo County Elections Department will conduct Logic and Accuracy testing of its Hart Verity voting equipment on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hidalgo County Elections Multi-Purpose Center, 1907 W. Jackson Creek Ave. in Edinburg.
The testing will take place in Ballot Board Room B106 and is open to the public and media.
Logic and Accuracy testing is designed to verify that ballots have been programmed correctly, votes are recorded accurately, and tabulation equipment properly counts ballots. Hidalgo County’s official election website lists Logic and Accuracy testing among its notices for the Nov. 3 election.
Texas law requires a public Logic and Accuracy test before using voting systems in an election. Under Section 129.023 of the Texas Election Code, the test must be open to the public, and public notice must be provided in advance
“The Logic and Accuracy testing of the voting machines also serves as a security measure that is required to take place to ensure the ballot is going to be correctly administered during the election,” Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Hilda A. Salinas said.
The testing gives observers a chance to see the county’s election equipment before voting begins and to watch the procedures used to verify its operation.
Texas law also requires testing of automatic tabulating equipment. A test is considered successful when the test ballots produce a perfect count, and the equipment otherwise functions properly. Equipment covered by those provisions cannot be used to count ballots until the required test is successful.
Media representatives attending Thursday’s event will be permitted to photograph and record the voting equipment during the testing session, according to the Elections Department.
The county’s public demonstration also provides residents an opportunity to become more familiar with the safeguards and procedures used before an election.
Election information for the Nov. 3 election, including election notices and ballot information, is available on the Hidalgo County Elections Department’s official election page.
Testing details: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., Hidalgo County Elections Multi-Purpose Center, Ballot Board Room B106, 1907 W. Jackson Creek Ave., Edinburg, Texas 78539.
