Henderson County Commissioners Court approved a suite of election-related measures Tuesday, clearing contracts for vote centers, confirming a joint primary resolution and authorizing a grant application aimed at offsetting recent equipment costs. The court voted to use The Texan in Athens as a vote center for the March primary and approved joint service contracts with the Democratic and Republican parties, authorizing the elections administrator to sign.

The elections administrator (referred to in the record as 'Miss Lucky') told the court the Texan contract mirrors the facility arrangement used in the prior November election and that Attachment A (cost details) had not yet been entered into the state system. She said the county pays much of the early-voting payroll but expects partial reimbursement from the Secretary of State—about $10,000 per party—while the parties cover election-day payroll.

The court also approved a proposed list of vote-center locations the administrator presented for the 2026 cycle. Changes include designating the senior citizen center as the primary early-voting location (replacing Bethel), adding Gun Barrel City Hall and the Chandler community center (moved from a church), and removing Moore Station because turnout there was low in the prior presidential election (about 110 voters). Early voting was stated to run Feb. 17–27, with weekend voting at the main site and 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays at some locations; staff noted challenges securing weekend availability and parking at some venues.

On funding, staff described earlier purchases of new poll books; a portion was reimbursed under the county’s Chapter 19 reimbursement and additional costs are eligible under a 2025 HAVA (Help America Vote Act) election security grant. The court approved a resolution to apply for HAVA funds and to assign the elections administrator as the county’s single point of contact for the grant application.

Routine motions to authorize the judge to sign contracts and to approve the vote-center list passed unanimously by those present. The court’s actions leave the county prepared to implement the joint primary arrangements while staff complete cost detail entries with state systems.

The elections administrator reminded residents to check voter registration, noted yearly requirements for mail-ballot requests, and restated the candidate filing deadline announced during public comment.