McLennan County commissioners court adopts resolution backing countywide voting centers

McLennan County commissioners on Thursday adopted a resolution opposing state measures that would eliminate countywide polling places and electronic poll books, after a series of public comments from local partisan election volunteers and a staff presentation on the program's local effects.

The resolution, read into the record by a county staff member identified in the meeting as Jared, and approved by the court, says the countywide polling place program increases convenience for voters, lowers the county's election costs and relies on electronic poll books authorized under Texas Election Code section 31.014.

The debate centered on whether returning to precinct-based polling would raise staffing and equipment costs and make voting less convenient for county residents. Patty O'Day, office manager of the McLennan County Republican Party, told the court that recruiting election judges, clerks and bilingual staff was already difficult and said the countywide model made it easier for voters to cast ballots at sites convenient to work or travel. "In my position, it is my job to find the election day judges, Republican on the Republican side… and I'm always…