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Parker County weighs resolution as state bills seek to end countywide polling
Summary
County elections staff warned proposed state bills to end countywide polling places could raise local costs and provisional ballots; commissioners heard competing public comments and deferred action pending a county-specific cost analysis.
Parker County elections administrator Cricket briefed the commissioners court on pending legislation that would eliminate countywide polling places and could force a return to precinct‑based voting. Cricket told the court, “99 counties out of the 254 participate in countywide voting,” and warned the change could require more polling locations, equipment and staff, estimating an equipment‑and‑startup cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The court heard public testimony both for and against the county adopting a resolution opposing the bills. Riley Joseph Virgin, executive director for the county party, urged the court to side with party priorities: “I urge you to reject the resolution of opposing the elimination of the countywide polling place program,” he said. Aubrey Venable, who has filed litigation relating to election equipment, told the court: “We need to set the example that the election machines need to be removed and we need to go back to paper ballots.” Commissioners said they wanted concrete, Parker County–specific cost figures before taking a formal position. The court ultimately took no action and asked staff to return with a detailed cost estimate at the next meeting.
