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Council affirms county polling exhibit; staff says city cannot unilaterally extend early‑voting hours
Summary
After public comment from a resident who said 8 a.m.–5 p.m. early‑voting hours exclude many working families, Pearland staff explained that election hours are set through a joint county contract and that the Secretary of State requires countywide changes, so the council approved the amendment to add locations/times to the earlier election resolution.
Pearland City Council on March 16 approved an amendment to the city’s election resolution to incorporate the county’s exhibit listing polling locations and hours, after receiving public comment urging later early‑voting hours.
Quentyn Wiltz, representing himself and speaking for working families, told council that many residents cannot vote during 8 a.m.–5 p.m. weekday early‑voting windows and urged the city to seek expanded hours. “There are thousands of Pearland residents like myself ... who will be left off, left out and not have their ability to vote in the local May 2nd election and early voting,” Wiltz said.
City staff explained Pearland participates in a joint elections contract administered by the county elections clerk; the county compiles polling time/location exhibits and the Secretary of State advised that any change to hours must be made countywide, not just for a single jurisdiction. Staff said the practical options are to: (1) seek countywide consensus at the December joint‑participant meeting to request later hours in future elections, or (2) run a standalone city election (which would require Pearland to assume greater cost and operations).
Council discussed seeking a council consensus before the December joint meeting so staff can advocate to the county on Pearland’s behalf; several council members indicated support for asking the county to consider evening hours (for example 8 a.m.–7 p.m.) during the second week of early voting. The amendment to add the county exhibit was approved on the consent agenda, recorded as part of resolution R2026‑33‑1.
