Allegations continued to surface on Thursday of poll watchers intimidating voters and of poll watchers themselves being harassed.

On the fourth day of early voting, the Harris County district attorney forwarded to the county attorney about a dozen allegations filed by poll watchers; voters called the county attorney about alleged intimidation by poll watchers; constables ejected a woman from a polling station for wearing a political T-shirt; and Commissioner El Franco Lee felt compelled to deny an Internet rumor that he had yelled at poll watchers to leave their posts.

First Assistant County Attorney Terence O'Rourke labeled the latter allegation an "urban myth."

Lee, too, said the story was "absurd on its face" and that he had not yet even voted yet.

An allegation of harassment against poll watchers is part of an effort to confuse voters, Lee said, and, "It's got a whole lot more yeast in it if you use my name."

No crimes found

O'Rourke said the district attorney's office had forwarded allegations by poll workers to his office. He said he had not yet found any of them worthy of criminal charges. He also said his office so far has decided not to take civil action in response to voter complaints that poll watchers are "hovering" over them as they try to vote and using cell phones inside polling locations.

"There are many rights that are precious here that are frequently in conflict," O'Rourke said. "The secret ballot is sacred. At the same time, we want to have the most transparent process possible," and poll watchers contribute to that transparency.

County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill said the tensions have arisen as a result of Republicans registering a record number of poll watchers: 300 for early voting and 1,000 for election day.

"Democrats don't want to be watched," Woodfill said. "My question is, 'what are you hiding?' "

Woodfill said he believes the party has poll watchers at all 37 of the county's early voting locations.

All of the complaints have come from polling locations in high-minority areas, O'Rourke said.

"Poll watchers historically have been designed to intimidate," and this year they are targeting minority precincts," Lee said.

Lee predicted that the strategy will backfire because it will drive people to the polls in anger over attempts to suppress the vote.

Poll watchers have alleged that someone has demanded their notes from them. They also allege that the same person persuaded an election judge to hand over poll watchers' credentials and took them outside the building to inspect them, Woodfill said.

Recriminations

The back and forth continues a pattern of charges and countercharges throughout this election season. Harris County, which accounts for roughly a sixth of the state's registered voters, figures to be a central battleground in a gubernatorial election that pits a former Houston mayor against a 10-year Republican incumbent. Statewide results also will determine which party has control over next year's legislative redistricting.

Democrats say the county's changing demographics are causing the area to trend toward their party, while Republicans expect to ride on the wave of what they see as a national backlash against the Obama administration.

"Elections are won and lost on participation," Lee said. "Our best elections are when you have the highest participation."

chris.moran@chron.com