The Wichita County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Aug. 26 to approve a one-time list of combined precincts for the Nov. 2025 constitutional amendment election, reducing the number of combined precincts to 21 and setting 11 election-day polling locations for that election.

Elections Administrator Robin Fincannon told the court that a recent change in state law (identified in the meeting as SB 985) allows precincts with fewer than 3,000 registered voters to combine with other precincts, so long as the combined precinct does not exceed 5,000 registered voters. “If you have fewer than 3,000 registered voters in a precinct, you can combine with another precinct,” Fincannon said, describing the legal change and the county’s plan to use it to avoid "unreasonable expenditures" on equipment, staffing and transportation for a lower-turnout election.

Why it matters: The change affects where some voters will go on Election Day, though it does not remove precincts from the voter rolls or change early voting. Fincannon said the proposed map keeps every precinct’s voter rolls intact (ballots and reports remain tied to original precincts) but consolidates physical election-day locations to reduce equipment movement and poll-worker needs.

Key details brought forward by elections staff: the county currently has 40 precincts and historically has had 20 election-day locations. The proposed combination would result in 21 combined precincts and 11 election-day locations for this single election. Fincannon estimated no voter would have to drive more than 25 miles to the closest election-day location; she also noted that the proposal is limited to this election and will be re-evaluated for future elections.

The court discussed practical effects: early voting locations will mirror election-day locations going forward if state law requires early-voting sites also be election-day locations; the county will post notices at any polling places that will not be used on Nov. 5, directing voters to the nearest location and giving distances. Fincannon said the measure is expected to save staff time, reduce machine wear and help with the continuing challenge of recruiting poll workers; she estimated poll-worker pay for an election day at about $4,000 overall and described the savings as primarily resource and logistical rather than large monetary savings.

Formal action: Commissioner Fincannon moved to approve the list of combined precincts; Commissioner Beecham seconded. The motion passed by voice vote, 5-0. The approval applies only to the Nov. 2025 constitutional amendment election; the commissioners must revisit any combining for future elections.