Voting company makes 'coercive' demand of Texas counties: Pay up or lose service before election

Bins of signs are seen at an election office in San Antonio, Texas.

Eric Gay / AP

On Friday, a voting company owner acknowledged making a “coercive” demand in 32 Texas counties: Pay an additional surcharge for the software that runs their voting registration system or lose it just before November’s elections.

John Medcalf of San Diego-based VOTEC said he had to request the counties pay a 35% surcharge because several agencies in multiple states, including some of the Texas counties, have been late to pay in the past and his company had trouble meeting payroll.

He characterized the charges as a cry for help to get enough money to avoid losing key employees just before November.