Comal County commissioners today pushed back on Republican state lawmakers who want to ban countywide voting on Election Day and get rid of electronic poll books.
At their weekly meeting, commissioners unanimously passed a resolution that opposes any state legislation intended to eliminate the two, citing popularity and convenience for voters and cost savings for the county.
“Why would we make things less efficient than what we have today?” County Judge Sherman Krause asked following a presentation by Elections Coordinator Cynthia Jaqua.
“That’s why we’re here and they’re there,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jen Crownover responded.
“I want to point out just how successful this has been in the county,” she said. “It’s a lot easier and more convenient for our voters and it’s a lot more cost-effective for us when we have to host elections.”
The county officially approved ‘Vote Centers’ in 2019. Before countywide voting, residents could only cast ballots in the precincts where they lived.
Comal is one of at least a dozen Texas counties opposing attempts by Republican legislators to eliminate countywide voting on Election Day, which is now allowed in 99 counties where more than 80% of voters live.
The Texas Tribune in a Feb. 13 article reported Republican State Sen. Bob Hall thinks countywide voting on election day lacks transparency and produces inaccurate results. He also filed a bill eliminating the use of electronic voting equipment needed for the program. Another lawmaker, State Rep. Steve Toth, a Republican representing The Woodlands, has filed similar proposals.
The measures do not affect early voting.
Jaqua defended use of electronic poll books, which replaced paper voter registration lists.
“Having the electronic poll books keeps us up to date as to whether if they vote or if they haven’t,” she said. “And so taking those away would be very difficult to keep up with people voting during early voting. They could go to other places maybe, and vote twice.”
In comments before the vote, League of Women Voters of the Comal Area President Jerrie Champlin urged commissioners to support the resolution.
