Hidalgo County commissioners oppose bills that would end countywide polling places and electronic poll books

Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Feb. 24 unanimously approved a resolution opposing state legislation that would eliminate countywide polling places, electronic poll books and electronic ballot‑marking devices.

The resolution — read and presented by Hilda Salinas (Elections/Collections staff) during the public meeting — states the county believes countywide polling locations, electronic poll books and electronic ballot marking devices increase turnout, reduce provisional ballots and allow voters who work outside their home precincts to cast Election Day votes without changing schedules.

Salinas said the county's analysis of 29 high‑turnout polling locations showed 27,836 voters cast ballots there, and that within those 29 locations 8,444 voters (about 30 percent) used countywide locations outside their home precincts. The resolution notes that electronic poll books are authorized by Texas Election Code §31.014 and that the devices are certified annually by the secretary of state. The resolution asserts that removing those tools would “reduce voter turnout” and “could disenfranchise a large number of voters.”

Action taken: the court voted “aye” on a motion to adopt the resolution (voice vote recorded: “All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries.”). The transcript records a generic mover and a second but does not record individual named votes.

Why it matters: Hidalgo County officials argued the countywide system supports voters who are away from their home precincts on Election Day — for example working in other parts of the county — and said removing countywide polling places and related electronic tools would create operational burdens and could reduce participation in large elections. The resolution will be sent as the county’s formal position to the legislature and other state entities, per the motion and court vote.