Bell County approves election judge roster but withholds alternate judge in Precinct 42 pending legal review

Bell County Commissioners on Aug. 5 approved the list of election judges and alternates submitted by the two major party chairs for the 2024–2026 appointment cycle, but took the unusual step of withholding final approval for the alternate presiding judge for Precinct 42 pending legal review.

The action followed extensive public comment from both Democratic and Republican volunteers and party chairs over a late nomination of Melissa Brown as the alternate judge at Sugarloaf Elementary (Vote Site 42 in Killeen). Irene Andrews, election director for the Bell County Democratic Party, told the court she and other Democratic election directors were “compelled to bring this to the attention of this body,” saying Brown had not worked in county elections and that her appointment risked poll-site cooperation. “We plan for every possible contingency,” Andrews said, and argued an inexperienced alternate could harm an already-busy presidential election.

Republican County Chair Addie Baird defended the nomination and noted the difficulty of staffing poll sites, saying Brown had served as a poll watcher and clerk and that the party attempted to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Democrats before submitting names. “She’s committed to do that,” Baird said, adding she expects judges to “check your party at the door.”

Commissioner Minor moved to remove Brown from the approved list, citing a campaign-finance filing that lists Brown as a campaign treasurer and pointing to Section 32.055 of the Texas Election Code, which makes a campaign treasurer ineligible to serve as an election judge in that same election. The motion prompted the court to seek legal guidance rather than make a definitive determination on eligibility in the moment.

The court’s final vote approved the full party-submitted roster while explicitly excluding the Precinct 42 alternate until the Secretary of State’s Elections Division, the Texas Ethics Commission and the County Attorney’s Office can review Brown’s status and advise whether she is disqualified under state law. The elections administrator told the court parties can replace judges up until election day and that emergency appointments may be made within 20 days of the election if necessary.

What happens next: The county clerk will file the approved list and the elections office will request opinions from the named legal authorities; if Brown is later deemed ineligible, the appropriate party chair will be asked to nominate a replacement and the court will reconvene (or the elections administrator will make an emergency appointment if within the statutory 20-day window).