Countywide precincts, or vote centers, allow voters the option of voting at any of the countywide polling places on Election Day instead of their assigned precinct polling location. A pilot program to test vote centers was authorized by the 79th Legislature’s House Bill 758. Vote centers have been reauthorized by the Texas Legislature ever since.
Lubbock County participated in the original pilot program during the Nov. 7, 2006, general election and has continued participation with overwhelming support from the voters and county officials.
“Countywide voting has been and continues to be an enormous success,” shared Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish. In fact, the discontinuation of vote centers, or the return to precinct-only centers, “would be devastating to Lubbock County,” Parrish stated.
After conducting the November presidential election with 50 vote centers, Lubbock County Elections Administrator Roxzine Stinson analyzed what would happen if vote centers were no longer allowed.
“If Lubbock County had to go back to precinct-based voting, our increased cost would be approximately $600,000,” Stinson reported. “The bulk of that cost would be in purchasing more equipment, the storage of that equipment, and all that goes with that. We would need more poll workers, which would increase training times and classes, the staff to help conduct those training classes, and the space in which to hold those classes. Finding enough locations would also be a factor.”
The discontinuation of vote centers has other Texas counties concerned as well.
“Countywide voting lowers the cost of elections for the county, which in return is passed on to the voter,” stated Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Doinoff, president of the Texas Association of County Election Officials.
“In addition, countywide voting is imperative to the voting process during natural disasters or emergency situations that may result in having to close a polling location,” Doinoff explained. “Without countywide voting, you would have to vote on another day or extend voting in these situations; if the polling location you closed wasn’t functional, there may not be another one in that precinct.”
On another note, countywide voting allows counties to avoid using schools as polling locations when possible.
“This is a big concern with school safety being a focus,” Doinoff stated.
If countywide vote centers were unauthorized for use, “it would likely lead to longer lines and confusion,” observed Hays County Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe.
“This could decrease overall voter participation due to a lack of flexibility,” Ingalsbe elaborated. “Additionally, the county would have to operate more polling locations, increasing the cost and complexity of managing the election process.”
Doinoff wholeheartedly agreed.
“Hays County would not be able to find enough polling locations or poll workers to accommodate precinct-based voting,” she declared. “In addition, we would need to double our equipment inventory to allow for this change. I can’t imagine a single benefit to reverting back to precinct-based voting.”
“Finally, countywide polling is a benefit to voters without compromising the security of an election,” Doinoff continued. “Concerns that countywide polling is less secure, or is unable to be audited are unsubstantiated. Early voting in person has operated under the countywide model since 1987 in Texas. Under Texas law, election systems are tested both before and after every election to ensure the security and accuracy of the election. We look forward to working with legislators to answer some of the concerns they have about the program to help them better understand our processes.”
Countywide vote centers are no different than the two weeks of early voting locations, emphasized Chambers County Clerk Heather Hawthorne, who oversees elections.
“Some of our precincts are neighborhoods with 5,000 voters that do not have a public building,” Hawthorne described. “We are a fast-growing county, and neighborhoods are being developed with only retail facilities at the entrances. Voters love the convenience of voting at a location of their choice, whether it is located near their employment or home.”
Chambers County is located on Interstate 10 with the Trinity River dividing the county in half. If a major accident were to occur on the interstate and the bridge were to close, voters would need to drive north to Liberty County, drive south back to Chambers County, and then drive to their precinct polling location, Hawthorne detailed. With countywide voting, voters have an option to vote on either side of the county on Election Day.
Finally, if vote centers are unauthorized for use, Chambers County will have to locate 10 additional polling locations, Hawthorne reported. The cost would be $292,845 for equipment and $10,023 for poll workers; this does not include additional annual service agreement costs.
Officials worked with the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas to develop the following resolution, which calls for the continued use of countywide polling.
County Election Security and Costs
WHEREAS, the integrity of elections is fundamental to democracy and the functioning of government; and
WHEREAS, free and fair elections are essential to the principles of representation and accountability; and
WHEREAS, the increasing threats to election security, including cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and other forms of interference, pose significant risks to the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, adequate funding is necessary to ensure that election systems are secure, reliable, and up-to-date, including investments in technology, training, and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, state and local election officials require resources to develop and implement effective security measures, conduct risk assessments, and provide education to the public on the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, many jurisdictions, particularly in rural areas, may face unique challenges and resource constraints that require targeted support from state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS, robust funding for elections supports voter accessibility and participation, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the state implement additional funding for elections and election security to protect the integrity of our electoral process and continue the use of local choices including the use of election administrators and countywide polling.