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Commissioners oppose state effort to eliminate countywide polling places and electronic poll books
Summary
El Paso County approved a resolution opposing any legislative attempt to end countywide polling places and electronic poll books, citing higher turnout and voter convenience; Elections Administrator Lisa Wise and voting-rights groups testified in support.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court on Monday adopted a resolution opposing any effort by the Texas Legislature to eliminate countywide polling-place programs and the use of electronic poll books.
The resolution, approved by voice vote, says countywide polling places let voters cast ballots at any location within the county on election day rather than being limited to a single precinct, and that the program had boosted turnout and reduced provisional ballots. Lisa Wise, the countys elections administrator, told the court that the countys November 2020 rollout of the program coincided with the highest recorded turnout in the countys history and that subsequent elections saw rising use of outside‑precinct election‑day voting.
"This past presidential election, we had 42,000 voters who on election day chose to cast their ballot outside of their precinct," Wise said at the meeting. "In 2020, about 27 percent of election‑day voters cast outside their precinct; this last presidential we saw about 60 percent choose outside their precinct on election day." She told commissioners county staff had received overwhelmingly positive feedback on shorter lines, more parking and improved convenience.
Claire de Yoliferla, executive director of Move Texas, told the court that countywide polling places are a "tangible, proven solution to expand access to the ballot box," especially for young people and working families who juggle jobs and school. She urged the court to oppose state bills that would narrow voting access.
Commissioner Stout moved and Judge Samaniego seconded the resolution; court minutes show "motion carries." The resolution requests that the county oppose state legislation that would remove countywide polling places and electronic poll books and affirms the countys support for the continued use of both.
Why it matters: County officials and voting advocates said countywide polling places and electronic poll books increase accessibility, help maintain continuity in emergencies when a single precinct location may be unusable, and contributed to higher turnout during recent elections. The county elections office underscored the operational benefits during disruptions such as vandalism or water-main breaks, when voters could be redirected to nearby vote centers with minimal disruption.
