Uvalde County holds public hearing on countywide polling, adopts resolution to seek 'successful' status

Uvalde County Commissioners Court held a public hearing on Nov. 25 about the countywide polling program required by the Texas Election Code and voted to adopt a resolution requesting that the Secretary of State deem the program 'successful.' The hearing drew residents who questioned polling‑site choices and the county’s outreach before the election.

At the hearing a resident identifying herself as Diana Veil Carue said she was “on the fence” about the countywide system and asked the court for turnout data and for reconsideration of specific sites, arguing that the community health center serves many Hispanic and elderly voters and should be reconsidered as a polling location. Another resident, Rhonda v Hill, told the court, “Under the Constitution, this countywide voting is illegal,” and urged the court to pause and conduct more community education about the change.

Elections staff explained the process and the paperwork required to document the countywide program’s operation for the Secretary of State. In discussion commissioners acknowledged that outreach could have been better but defended countywide polling’s practical benefit, saying it allows a voter to cast a ballot for their precinct at any county polling location without being redirected. The Elections Administrator recommended adoption of the resolution required for the countywide polling program to be certified as successful.

After brief discussion and questions about polling‑site selection, the court moved to adopt the resolution and approved it by voice vote. The court and members of the public suggested alternative or additional locations for future elections—names mentioned included the El Progreso Library, the nutrition center, and the Herbie Hamm activity center—and requested county staff provide turnout and usage data for each site before the next election.

The county’s action was procedural: the resolution documents the county’s implementation of the countywide polling program for the Secretary of State. The court did not change polling‑site assignments during the meeting; members directed staff and commissioners to review locations and outreach before the next election.