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Uvalde County public hearing on vote centers prompts call to delay application; motion dies for lack of second
Summary
Elections Administrator Melissa Jones described the countywide polling-place (vote center) pilot and application timeline; public commenters urged more notice and accessibility outreach, and a motion to apply failed for lack of a second before the July deadline.
Uvalde County Elections Administrator Melissa Jones told the commissioners court that the countywide polling-place pilot would let any registered county voter cast a ballot at any designated polling location on election day while leaving early voting and vote-by-mail unchanged. "This would allow voters on only election day to vote in any polling location within the county," Jones said, and she warned the court that participation is not automatic: the Texas Secretary of State selects participating counties.
The pilot requires counties to use at least 65% of their normal election-day sites; Jones said that would mean choosing 10 polling locations for Uvalde County’s first election under the program, and that poll‑pad check-in systems must be synced so voters cannot cast multiple ballots at different sites.
Why it matters: supporters say vote centers can increase convenience and participation; critics and several public commenters said the county needs more outreach and time for stakeholder input before asking to be included in the pilot.
During the public hearing, Emma Trimble said she generally supports the idea but asked the court to delay action because representatives of the disabled community and other groups had not been properly notified. "I am concerned that I personally knew nothing about this until yesterday," Trimble said, asking the court to table the matter. Diana Alvaro Carue, a citizen and taxpayer, said she also favors the concept but criticized county communications and the elections office’s limited social‑media use, warning that some voters are not seeing notices in time.
The court opened a separate agenda item to consider applying for the pilot before the Secretary of State’s application window closes at the end of the month. Commissioner Bates moved to accept the application, but no commissioner seconded the motion and it died for lack of a second. County staff told the court that an application must be filed by July 31 and that the Secretary of State would have 30 days to review applications.
Next steps: Commissioners discussed the possibility of a special meeting or tabling the item until the full court could be present; no subsequent vote on the application was recorded at this meeting.
