>>
>> INTERESTING IS THE RIGHT WORD AS THIS DEVELOPS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IT TOOK A LOT LONGER FOR THE
ELECTION RESULTS IN HARRIS
COUNTY TO COME IN THIS YEAR.
OF COURSE, WE WANTED TO KNOW
WHY THAT HAPPENED.
ADAM BENNETT WENT TO THE
COUNTIES TOP ELECTION OFFICIALS
FOR ANSWERS.
FOR ANSWERS. >> IT IS GOING TO MEAN A LONGER
NIGHT.
NIGHT.
NIGHT. >>
NIGHT. >> Reporter: LAST FRIDAY HARRIS
COUNTY CLERK DIANE TRAUTMAN
WARNED US TUESDAY'S COUNT COULD
TAKE A WHILE.
A DAY EARLIER AND OUTSIDE EMAIL
ALERTED THEM TO A LAST-SECOND
RULE CHANGE BY THE TEXAS
SECRETARY OF STATE.
R. TROUTMAN SAYS THAT CHANGE
FORCED HER STAFF TO DRIVE THE
BALLOTS DOWNTOWN FROM ALL 757
POLLING SITES.
POLLING SITES. ORIGINALLY THEY JUST PLANNED TO
TRANSMIT THE RESULTS THROUGH
AND ENCRYPTED PRIVATE NETWORK
FROM 10 DROP OFF SITES.
IT IS A PLAN DR. TROUTMAN SAYS
THE STATE APPROVED IN AUGUST
AFTER IT WORKED WELL IN THE MAY
ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS. >> IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO
SEE THEY HAVE A LAST-MINUTE
CHANGE LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: SHE TOLD US FRIDAY
COULD TAKE UNTIL 2 AM TO GET
FINAL UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. IT
TURNS OUT IT TOOK CLOSER TO 7
AM.
AM.
AM. ON
AM. ON A
AM. ON A SOCIAL MEDIA PLACES ONE
THOUGHT THE PROCESS WAS
TRANSPARENT.
TRANSPARENT. MANY WONDER WHY THE CHANGE WAS
MADE.
MADE.
MADE. I
MADE. I TOOK THAT QUESTION TO DR.
TROUTMAN TODAY.
TROUTMAN TODAY. >> WE SAID WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHY SO LATE?
>> Reporter: SHE TOLD ME THE
STATE SHOT DOWN THE REQUEST FOR
A WAIVER AND WOULDN'T ELABORATE
DURING THE CONVERSATION WITH
THE ELECTIONS DIRECTOR.
>> THEY JUST SAID THIS IS THE
ADVISORY.
ADVISORY.
ADVISORY. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT. >> Reporter: MANY OF YOU
WONDERED IF POLITICS WERE
BEHIND THAT 11th HOUR CHANGE
UP.
UP.
UP. >>
UP. >> IT
UP. >> IT WOULD SEEM TO BE SOME
KIND OF A POLITICAL PRESSURE
WAS PUT ON THEM TO BACKTRACK
EVERYTHING THEY HAD TOLD US.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING
INTO A POLITICAL BACK AND
FORTH.
FORTH.
FORTH. >>> DR. TROUTMAN SAYS SHE AND
HER STAFF ARE FOCUSED ON FINDING
WAYS TO SPEED UP RETURNS FOR
NEXT MONTH'S RUNOFF.
>> THE SAME ELECTION NIGHT
REPORTING PROCESS WILL BE
DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. >> Reporter: NEXT