Matt Woolbright

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Jennifer Ellis, chairwoman of the Nueces County Democratic party, was beaming and calling candidates shortly after the polls closed Tuesday night in Nueces County. The official results website showed favorable returns for Democrats, and an overwhelming majority of precincts reporting.

Her joy was short-lived, however, having been caused by an error on the county's results website that stemmed from this year's switch away from voting by precinct to voters instead being able to vote anywhere.

The county's website soon corrected itself and momentum favored Republicans in the county.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions on what transpired tonight," Ellis said.

More than four hours after polls had officially closed in Nueces County, the head of the local Republican Party was also nervously waiting to know the outcome of close races. He faulted the long ballot with causing the county's reporting issues.

"It was a serious mistake to move the city and school district elections to the general elections. The ballots are too long and voters take their time," Bergsma said. "My impression is judges were uncertain of certain parts of the process, and that led to delays and that slowed everything down."

County Clerk Kara Sands said as of 11:30 p.m., the county had tabulated the in-person votes of all ballots at approximately 98,500, which would mean about 31,400 voters cast ballots on Election Day. As midnight approached, "more than 7,000" absentee ballots still had to be verified and counted, Sands explained.