Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Henderson County approves vote-center plan, vendor contracts and HAVA grant resolution ahead of March 2026 primary
Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved rental contracts, a joint primary resolution, a state-form services contract and a list of proposed 2026 vote-center locations; staff also sought county authorization to apply for remaining HAVA election security funds to cover poll-book costs.
Henderson County Commissioners Court on a routine November agenda approved a slate of election operations items aimed at preparing for the March 2026 joint primary.
Elections administrator Miss Lucky presented rental agreements with The Texan in Athens to serve as a registered vote center for both the March primary and the November election and said the contracts mirror arrangements used in November. "This will be our vote center for the Box 3, here in Athens," she said, adding the agreements had been reviewed by the county attorney and that the county judge’s authorization would be required on the contract.
The county also adopted a joint resolution with the Democratic and Republican parties to hold the March 2026 primaries and approved a state-form primary election services contract between the county and the parties. Miss Lucky told the court that the county pays much of the early-voting payroll and expects partial reimbursement from the Texas Secretary of State, stating, "we'll get about $10,000 back, from each party." The court authorized the elections administrator to sign the contract.
Commissioners reviewed a proposed list of vote-center and early-voting sites for 2026, including designating the senior citizen center as the main early-voting location, retaining St. Edwards for Precinct 4, replacing low-turnout Moore Station and Bethel sites, and adding Gun Barrel City Hall and the Chandler community center (moved from a church). Miss Lucky described operational challenges, including weekend staffing and parking at some sites, and noted early voting would begin Feb. 17 and run through Feb. 27 with weekend voting at the main location. Commissioners discussed worker recruitment and past staffing levels — "we had a 140, I think, we used last year," Miss Lucky said — and debated whether additional permanent vote centers will be needed in Chandler and Gun Barrel City as state voting rules evolve.
Separately, the court approved a resolution to apply for available 2025 HAVA election security grant funds to help offset remaining poll-book and equipment costs. Miss Lucky said some poll books purchased for November were already partially reimbursed through Chapter 19 and the HAVA grant would cover additional costs. "In order to do that, we need to do a resolution through the court," she said.
All motions related to the election items carried unanimously.
What happens next: staff will finalize contract attachments and signatures, proceed with the HAVA grant application under the court-appointed point of contact, and implement the approved vote-center plan for the March 2026 primary.
