Commissioners OK temporary changes to early-voting locations, consolidate two precincts for November

Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted to consolidate two rural precincts and to add temporary early-voting locations ahead of the November election. The court approved combining voting precincts 2B and 2C into a single polling location at Old Bethel Baptist Church for the November election only. Elections staff said Old Bethel is roughly 4 miles from the Falba Independent Church site and that signs will be posted to direct voters. Elections staff estimated each precinct has fewer than 3,000 registered voters and that the combined total is about 4,400. Shannon Maddox, election staff, said the Falba location experienced problems in a prior election and that there are limited alternate sites inside the precinct. "This is only gonna be for the November election," Maddox said. "We need to make a decision because it put our ballots and our programming and everything on hold until this decision is made." The court approved a motion to consolidate for the November election. Separately, the court approved an agreement with Wills Point Independent School District to establish the Wills Point Community Center as a temporary early-voting branch for the November election only. The ISD agreed to pay for poll workers and supplies, and county staff will supply one worker from the county pool. The county will provide daily transport for forms and processing related to that site. The court also approved establishing the Van Movie House as a permanent temporary branch early-voting location "until the order is rescinded." County representatives said the city of Van will waive rental fees and lease-equipment fees when the city has an election; the facility charges listed in the discussion included a $250 deposit, a $200 fee for four hours and $25 for each additional hour if charged. Equipment leasing was discussed as approximately $500 per piece, with total equipment/lease cost for a Van site estimated at $1,500–$2,000 plus $100 for pull pads. Court members said the site would spread voting load from the library; the library location had more than 16,000 voters in the November election referenced by staff. All three measures passed on motions, with county staff and commissioners voting in favor.