An unidentified woman entered the Election Building on North Alley Street in Jefferson on Friday evening after the polls had closed, and the Jefferson Police Department was called. Officials said that around 8:15 p.m. the woman pounded on the door and asked what was happening inside.
Poll workers said they were closing out voting machines and shutting down the early voting location, as required by the Texas Election Code. Workers said the woman got inside before a second door could be secured. They told her police had been called and that she needed to leave. She left the building and the area before police arrived.
Elections Coordinator Karen Jones said the incident was captured on camera. Jones and poll workers are working with police to identify the woman. Jones said no machines were touched and no votes or ballots were in jeopardy. In a Facebook post late Friday, Jones wrote that election officials must be able to do their work "without fear of intimidation, interference, or threats." Jefferson Police Chief Florentino Perez said, "This is a very serious matter and will be investigated fully." He had no further comment.