This Friday: Hot Topic on Precinct VS Countywide Polling

We're covering one of this session's "Hot Topics" - both Pro and Con

DATE: THIS Friday, March 7, 2025

TIME: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

WHERE: Zoom (link sent upon registration)

TOPIC: Countywide vs. Precinct Polling Places - Hear from both sides of the discussion!

The House Elections Committee will have their first committee meeting on Thursday, March 6^th at 10:30 AM in Room E2.012. As always, the first meeting of the session will be invited testimony from SOS and election officials, with no specific bills on the agenda. We will hear from SOS, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the County and District Clerks Association of Texas, and two election equipment vendors: Hart Intercivic, Inc. and Election Systems & Software (ES&S).

Watch this link for meeting agendas:

You can watch the meeting live HERE

The Senate State Affairs Committee covers many issues, including elections, so check out their meeting agendas.

Meeting agendas are found here:

OR, go to this link each day to see all the scheduled meetings for the day.

View all the bills scheduled for a public hearing today and which committee is hearing them HERE.

Have you ever wished there was a phone book for the whole Capitol Complex? THERE IS!!

A little homework on Countywide Voting before the TEN Talk this Friday...

Counties must apply to the SOS to be approved for use of the countywide voting locations (also known as “super precincts” or “vote centers”) instead of providing polling places at each regular county election precinct.

Participation in the Program is limited to those counties that use direct recording electronic (“DRE”) voting systems, ballot-marking devices, hand- marked scannable paper ballots that are printed and scanned at the polling place, or any other type of voting system equipment that the Secretary of State determines is capable of processing votes for each type of ballot to be voted in the county.

Participating counties must also provide a computerized and linked voter registration list at each countywide polling place.

BACKGROUND

In the 79th Texas Legislature House Bill 758 was enacted, requiring the Secretary of State to establish a pilot program in one or more counties as a test of the countywide voting location concept. Lubbock County was the only county to participate in the pilot program, successfully running a countywide polling place pilot for the November 2006 General Election for State and County Officers.

In the 80th Texas Legislature House Bill 3105 was enacted, requiring another pilot program for the 2008 election year. House Bill 3105 added language requiring the county to adopt a methodology for determining its polling place locations and limited participating counties to reducing the total number of polling places to no more than fifty percent of the number of precinct polling places that would normally be used in the county. Lubbock and Erath Counties participated in the House Bill 3105 program.

In the 81st Texas Legislature House Bill 719 was enacted, making the pilot program permanent. The bill added language requiring a county to retain 65 percent of the number of precinct polling places that would normally have been used in its elections in the county’s first election using countywide polling places. Participation in the Program was limited to those counties that exclusively used voting systems and provided a computerized and linked voter registration list at each countywide polling place.

In the 83rd Legislature Senate Bill 578 was enacted, expanding the Program for use in each primary election and runoff primary election if the county chair or county executive committee of each political party participating in a joint primary election under Section 172.126 of the Texas Election Code agreed to the use of countywide polling places; or the county chair or county executive committee of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary election agreed to the use of the same countywide polling places.

In the 87th Legislature House Bill 3107 was enacted, expanding the Program for use in any election held as part of a joint election agreement with a participating county or any election held under a contract for election services with a participating county.

In the second called session of the 87th Legislature Senate Bill 1 was enacted, expanding the Program for use in counties that use ballot-marking devices, hand-marked scannable paper ballots that are printed and scanned at the polling place, or any other type of voting system equipment that the Secretary of State determines is capable of processing votes for each type of ballot to be voted in the county.

THE CURRENT PROGRAM

To date, 96 Texas counties have applied for and met the Secretary of State’s requirements for the “successful” countywide precinct polling place designation: Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Callahan, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Comal, Coryell, Dallas, Deaf Smith, DeWitt, Eastland, Ector, Ellis, El Paso, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Fort Bend, Gaines, Galveston, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hood, Hopkins, Howard, Jack, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Lampasas, Lee, Liberty, Lubbock, Madison, Marion, McLennan, Medina, Midland, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Parmer, Polk, Potter, Randall, Rockwall, Rusk, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Smith, Somervell, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis, Upshur, Victoria, Walker, Webb, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson. and Young.

Following the implementation of the countywide program, SOS solicits public feedback from voters county chairs, and election workers in the county. Turnout trends are also analyzed.

RECOMMENDATION: Local political subdivisions in the countywide program must have their ballot at every polling place, which impacts the cost of conducting an election. Additionally, Election Code Section 31.093 does not require Election Administrators to contract for election services in even-numbered years. SOS has asked the Legislature to consider requiring all election officers of counties participating in the countywide polling program to contract for election services with the local political subdivisions.

RECOMMENDATION: Section 85.062(f-1) of the Election Code requires that the same methodology that a county uses to determine the location of countywide polling places be used to determine the location of any temporary branch polling locations. Section 43.007(m) provides part of that methodology and states that, in determining locations, the county must ensure that each commissioners court precinct contain at least one polling place and that the total number of polling places open for voting in any one commissioners court precinct does not exceed more than twice the number of polling places open for voting in any other commissioners court precinct in the county. These two provisions of the Election Code operating together require a county participating in the countywide polling place program to open multiple temporary branch early polling locations. Counties are required to open at least one temporary branch early voting location in each of their four county commissioner precincts due to the fact that the same methodology used to select countywide polling locations must be used to determine temporary branch early voting locations and the methodology requires the placement of one polling location in each commissioner court precinct. An increase in the number of early voting locations may lead to increased costs and increased use of other resources in order to find sufficient staff and equipment for any additional temporary branch early voting locations. SOS has asked the 89th Legislature to consider clarification of the required number of early voting locations for counties participating in the countywide polling place program.

OBSERVATION: Information provided by participating counties suggest that increased turnout percentages indicate the voters having an increased opportunity to vote is a positive change.

OBSERVATION: More counties have indicated interest in the program. They feel that countywide voting helps to address polling place parking issues as well as extended wait times.

For more information on the Countywide Polling Place Program:

YOU CAN REGISTER NOW FOR 3-21-25 TEN TALKS!

Texas Elections: Exploring Voter Roll Bifurcation

DATE: Friday, March 21, 2025

TIME: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

WHERE: Zoom (link sent upon registration)

REGISTRATION: Required - secure your spot today!

Join us for an engaging TEN Talks on Friday, March 21st at 9 am as we explore the potential benefits and challenges of bifurcating voter rolls in Texas. As several states have already implemented split election systems, we'll examine whether this approach aligns with Texas's unique electoral landscape and values. This timely discussion will offer insights into how election bifurcation could reshape voter participation, election administration, and political representation in our state. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with experts and fellow citizens on a topic that could significantly impact Texas's electoral future.

I would like to invite you to join TEN's mission of strengthening Texas through informed grassroots participation. The Texas Election Network, as a nonprofit organization, remains dedicated to educating citizens about electoral processes, equipping communities with resources to navigate the legislative landscape, empowering election integrity advocates, and revitalizing grassroots leadership and participation across our diverse state.

Our commitment extends beyond simply providing information—we strive to cultivate engaged grassroots prepared to shape policy decisions through informed advocacy and election integrity efforts. Through our educational workshops, resource guides, and issue forums, we continue to serve as a trusted, objective source for understanding Texas election administration and legislative developments. Together, we can ensure our electoral and legislative institutions remain responsive to community needs and reflective of our shared Texas values. We look forward to supporting you in the months ahead.

Melissa Conway

Texas Election Network

Managing Director

832-648-0770

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