BBV: Problem in Bowie County, TX

[JohnGideon]

The news articles are a little confusing on the Feb. 17 special election in Bowie County, TX. Hopefully, one of you faithful DU'ers can help me make some sense of it.

One article mentioned that the election was held-up for hours due to machine problems. The other articles all say that the election was held-up due to there not being enough paper ballots to cover all of the voters. So which is it? What voting system is used in Bowie County? Why were they hand-counting ballots?

Note that if a Dem had won in this race, the Dems would have taken back the State Senate.

[RedEagle]

1. A little help here

Was this in 2002?

[meg]

2. From Paris Tx newspaper

link

Election results were delayed until shortly before midnight Tuesday because Bowie County ran out of ballots, delaying the count of about half the county’s precincts.

from the Tyler paper
link

The Tyler Republican gained the most ground in Gregg and Bowie counties when comparing results to the election four weeks ago. But while the population centers around Longview and Texarkana brought the biggest gains in sheer numbers, Eltife doubled his performance from the first election in all but five counties.

and this from Tyler:

Turnout in Bowie County surged a whopping 47 percent over the first election, while overall turnout across the 16-county Senate district rose just 29 percent, from 69,171 votes to 89,522.

[RedEagle]

3. That's an interesting turn out number

Would be curious to see the poll books on that one.

What machines counted the vote?