Ogg: 'Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy'

Harris County’s purported Election Day woes have prompted the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA) Office to launch an investigation, per Houston-based media outlets. 

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that DA Kim Ogg requested assistance from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. 

Any findings yielded from the investigation will go before a Harris County grand jury, the station reported.

The development comes a couple of days after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a call for an investigation into what he alleges were widespread problems in Texas’ largest county. 

Abbott, a Republican, himself was on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 8, earning a third term in Texas’ highest office by besting Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke, Houston Daily reported.

According to Ogg, the state requires her office to investigate any credible complaint arising from supposed election irregularity. 

“Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy … That's why we've called for the assistance of the Texas Rangers,” the DA said in a statement, KTRK reported. 

Ogg added that complaints are seriously looked into regardless of the party affiliation of those who file them, adding her office “charged three Democrats and two Republicans” after the presidential election two years ago.

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the county’s elections head, Clifford Tatum, fielded questions over last Tuesday’s plethora of problems at the ballot box at a Harris County Commissioners Court meeting. 

“There are a few issues that have been identified,” Tatum told the court, per KHOU. “A full assessment is in order. We have started that assessment but I’d like to remind you and the public we’re still counting votes.” 

The Harris County Republican Party accuses Tatum and the county of depriving a voice to the public while the Harris County Democrats chastise the governor’s request for an investigation as a political ploy.