Colorado County commissioners back application to create countywide vote centers for May election

Colorado County Commissioners voted unanimously on Jan. 21 to support an application to the Texas Secretary of State to implement countywide polling places, commonly called vote centers, beginning with the May 2, 2026 uniform election. County Judge Ty Prause moved the resolution, which Commissioner Shannon Owers seconded; the motion passed 5-0.

The court's action follows a series of advisory-committee meetings in December and January and a Jan. 12 public hearing required by state law. Election Administrator Rebecka LaCourse told the court that countywide voting would reduce the number of polling locations while allowing voters to cast ballots at any of the vote centers. "With countywide voting, there will be fewer polling places, but citizens can vote at any location," LaCourse said, and she outlined the county's plan: early-voting sites would remain in Weimar, Columbus and Eagle Lake, and election day would add two locations, Nada/Garwood and Frelsburg, for a total of five vote centers.

Why it matters: switching from precinct-only polling places to a countywide vote-center model changes where residents go to vote and requires planning on equipment distribution, staffing and communications. The advisory committee recommended using five centers—one in each major town and one at each end of the county—to balance access, equipment needs and staffing availability.

Details from the advisory process and county materials show the county is preparing its equipment and staffing plans. Colorado County reported an inventory that includes ExpressVote ballot-marking devices and on-site tabulators, and the ExpressPoll electronic poll book system with dedicated MiFi units to provide connectivity at locations. The county provided equipment counts in its application materials: 23 ExpressVote ballot-marking devices, 16 DS200 tabulators, 7 DS300 tabulators and 28 ExpressPoll units (electronic poll books). LaCourse also said paper poll books remain the contingency plan in case of connectivity loss.

The court reviewed cost and staffing estimates presented to the advisory committee. The packet cited typical election costs between $20,000 and $40,000 and an average cost per ballot cast of about $11, while offering staffing scenarios for early voting and election day that include minimum worker counts and hours. The advisory committee discussed several operational options under SB 2753—running all five locations for the full 12-day voting period, staging three locations for the full period and adding two sites on the final day, or other consolidation plans—and recommended a three-plus-two staging plan as financially feasible and operationally practical.

The commissioners' resolution directs county staff to proceed with the Secretary of State application and implements the advisory committee's recommendations for site selection and public outreach. The county's communication plan includes newspaper notices, radio, websites, social media posts, flyers and targeted outreach to minority and outlying communities.

What happens next: the application will be submitted to the Secretary of State and, if approved, the county will finalize equipment allocation, worker lists and a public-information campaign ahead of the May 2 election.

At the Jan. 21 meeting, the court recorded that the advisory committee meetings resulted in unanimous recommendations; the court’s formal resolution records public-hearing attendance and states that those who appeared favored implementation.