The 2022 Harris County Election: Investigation Findings
After a thorough investigation by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, it has been determined that no criminal activity was involved in the 2022 Harris County general election. This investigation was prompted by concerns raised by Governor Greg Abbott, alleging voter suppression and equipment failures. However, the inquiry did not find any intentional misconduct aimed at suppressing voter turnout.
The investigation did, however, uncover a case involving Darryl Blackburn, a former data analyst with the Harris County Elections Administration Office. Blackburn, responsible for distributing equipment and supplies to polling locations, is facing six felony charges. It was revealed that Blackburn had been working a second full-time job concurrently, leading to negligence in the allocation of paper ballots to polling locations.
Blackburn is accused of falsifying timesheets and earning a substantial income from both jobs. Despite these charges, there is no evidence to suggest that Blackburn intended to influence the election’s outcome.
The tumultuous Election Day in 2022 saw significant delays for Harris County voters due to machine malfunctions, paper shortages, and late polling location openings. The Texas Secretary of State’s office identified process failures but found no evidence of voter fraud.
Currently, Blackburn is in custody on a $65,000 bond, and no further charges are expected as the investigation comes to a close.