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Public hearing: Colorado County moves to apply for Countywide Polling Place program; residents voice support
Summary
At a Jan. 12 public hearing County election official Rebecka Lacourse outlined a plan for a countywide vote‑center program (five locations). Multiple residents spoke in support and the court authorized county employees to serve as poll workers with compensation and training terms.
Colorado County's Election Administrator Rebecka Lacourse opened a public hearing Jan. 12 on the county's application to the Texas Secretary of State to create a Countywide Polling Place (vote center) program.
Lacourse told the Commissioners Court that the plan would reduce the number of polling locations while allowing any voter in the county to cast ballots at any vote center. She listed the proposed early‑voting locations as Weimar, Columbus and Eagle Lake, with two election‑day additions—Nada/Garwood and Frelsburg—bringing the total to five vote centers.
The hearing drew multiple supporters during the public‑comment period. Dennis Ramsey, James Weishuhn (who read a letter from the Garwood Water District), Regina Williamson (Sheridan Water Supply), Glenn Horndt (Barten Water Supply) and others urged action. Supporters said countywide voting will reduce confusion and costs and would be more convenient for voters. Lacourse explained the county will use ballot‑marking devices that print and scan ballots and a computerized voter registration check to prevent double voting at separate centers.
Following public comment the court moved to authorize county employees to serve voluntarily as election poll workers with their supervisors’ consent. Judge Ty Prause’s motion specified that employees would be compensated at their regular pay rate and would receive comp time or overtime if they worked more than 40 hours; the court also approved paying $25 for a training lunch for employees who attend a county training session. The motion passed 5-0.
The public hearing record and the court's vote advance Colorado County's application to the Secretary of State; the court set additional procedural steps including required public notice and follow‑up filings noted in the county's application packet.
The hearing lasted roughly five minutes; Lacourse and several residents provided the substantive remarks documented in the court minutes. The county's next procedural steps are the formal application filing with the Secretary of State and any statutory notice or comment period attached to that administrative review.
