Commissioners Vote for Joint Primary Elections

The Comal County Republican Party and the Comal County Democratic Party agree on one thing: When residents arrive at the polls to vote in the Texas 2020 Primary Election on March 3 they shouldn’t be segregated by party, as they have in the past.

Republican Party Chair Sue Piner and Democratic Party Chair Gloria Meehan told Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday morning they support joint elections, and commissioners agreed.

They voted unanimously in favor of a motion that ends so-called “regular” primary elections, which require voters to “check in” at their preferred party table before walking to separate sides of the room to cast their ballots.

“It’s a strain on the resources of a county of this size to have regular elections, and it’s a strain on voters,” Meehan said after the meeting.

Piner said her retail background makes customer satisfaction a priority.

“We’re trying to be as efficient as we can.”

On March 3, voters will stand in the same line and vote using the same machines after privately identifying their party affiliation.

Comal County Elections Coordinator Cynthia Jaqua said election judges from each party will supervise voting. Comal County has 27 polling locations — including countywide Vote Centers — and 29 election precincts as of Jan. 1.

She added another location could be added in the near future.

In other action this morning, commissioners appointed Parks Maintenance and Improvement Committee members. They include Carl Miller, Position 5, for Hidden Valley Sports Park’s Mid-Tex Youth Football League and Darin Zumwalt, Position 6, for Hidden Valley Sports Park’s Community Resource & Recreation Center.

These are volunteer assignments.