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Court approves voter‑registrar overtime for upcoming elections, flags budget and policy questions
Summary
County approved estimated overtime hours for voter‑registration staff to cover extended early‑voting and election‑day service, while commissioners asked staff to pursue policy changes and possible budgeting to avoid repeated ad‑hoc approvals.
Liberty County Commissioners Court approved a request to pay overtime to voter‑registrar staff for hours required by state election law to keep the registrar's office open during early voting and on election day. Staff said the request covered additional regular and overtime hours for a part‑time and a full‑time employee; court members debated whether comp time, overtime or a formal budget line should be used going forward.
The voter‑registrar representative said state rules require the office to remain open during early‑voting hours and to maintain staff (including Spanish‑speaking staff for translations), and noted chapter‑19 funds and state reimbursements can help cover some election costs but cannot be used for part‑time workers in the same way as temporary poll workers.
Commissioners approved the overtime request by voice vote and directed staff to review a policy change and budget treatment so future election periods are handled consistently.
