Harrison County approves 18 early-voting sites and election-day polling locations for Nov. 5

The Harrison County commissioners court on July 9 approved the early-voting and election-day polling locations for the Nov. 5, 2024 election after a presentation by Elections Administrator Robinette.

Robinette said the county proposes 18 early-voting sites — including the Harrison County Elections Office, TJ Taylor in Karnak, the Wascom Sub Courthouse and Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Longview — the same sites used in the recent primary. "The party chairs were in agreement on these," he said. Commissioners approved the early-voting locations by unanimous vote.

For election day, Robinette presented a list of polling places that includes the Marshall Convention Center, ETBU (Wiley University) Student Center, TJ Taylor (Karnak), several ESD stations and church and community-center locations across the county. He noted two changes from the primary (moving the polling place from the George Washington Carver Center back to Wiley University’s student center, and using Woodlawn Baptist Church instead of the Woodlawn Community Center), and said accessibility and equipment concerns were considered.

Robinette discussed staffing, equipment reserves and training plans. He said county staff can limit the number of open precincts to concentrate equipment and backup resources and that he aims to offer hands-on equipment training and clerk/judge training prior to the election.

On turnout expectations, Robinette told commissioners he would "probably have about 35,000 people vote" in the general election, based on registration growth and prior turnout; he cautioned that turnout can vary.

The court approved the election-day locations and associated operational planning by unanimous vote. Robinette said he will send maps and lists to the court and will work on training and staffing plans prior to the election.