They were wrong.

We Won — Oglesby v. Burns (Cause No. 2025-308)

Judgment entered for the Contestant after a full bench trial in the 402nd District Court of Wood County, Texas:
When the law is followed, truth prevails.

What Happened:

On November 7, 2025, the Court officially ruled in favor of Contestant Norma Oglesby in the election contest Oglesby v. Burns, Cause No. 2025-308. The Court found that the May 3, 2025 City of Hawkins council election was conducted with serious procedural violations that made the true outcome impossible to determine.

Under Texas Election Code § 221.012, the Court declared the election void and ordered that the process be redone lawfully so every citizen’s vote counts.

Key Findings

Election Date: May 3, 2025
Canvass Certified: May 14, 2025
Official Margin: 8 votes
Signature Roster: 1 signature / 146 ballots — and that one signature came from early voting, not Election Day
Voters Denied Ballots: 12 or more eligible citizens not offered provisional ballots
Ballot Chain-of-Custody: Unauthorized individuals handled election materials

Why the Court Ruled for the Contestant

Texas law is clear: when election procedures are violated so extensively that the true outcome cannot be determined, the court must act.
Evidence showed:

Violation of § 63.002 — voters were not required to sign before receiving ballots.
Violation of § 32.031 — the polling site lacked the three-member election board required by law.
Violation of § 127.008 — unauthorized handling of ballot boxes.
Together, these failures rendered the official count unreliable and the election void.

Timeline of Events

May 3, 2025 — City of Hawkins election held
May 4, 2025 — Election records made publicly available (§ 1.012)
May 14, 2025 — Canvass certified by City Council
June 23, 2025 — Petition filed within 45-day deadline (§ 232.008 (b))
October 31, 2025 — Bench hearing on the merits (oral judgment read in favor of Contestant)
November 7, 2025 — Written judgment officially entered for Contestant

A Victory for Accountability

This case wasn’t about politics — it was about process.

When local governments follow the Election Code, confidence in democracy grows.

When they don’t, citizens have both the right and duty to demand compliance.

This ruling ensures future Hawkins elections are lawful, transparent, and fair.

Share This Win

“We won. The Court ruled for election transparency and accountability in Hawkins.”

“Judgment entered for Contestant Norma Oglesby after the court found that the true outcome of the City of Hawkins election could not be determined due to missing signatures, denied voters, and unauthorized ballot handling.”