Commissioners OK countywide polling places

June 17--Taylor County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to implement countywide polling places.

If approved by the Texas Secretary of State's office, starting with the November election voters will be able to go to any polling place on election day, rather than having to vote at a specific location.

The change should make voting easier and similar to early voting already used by many in the county, said Kristi Allyn, election coordinator.

"This is going to eliminate voters being in the wrong place," she said. "This is going to eliminate voters who have not changed their address with us -- they can just go to any location."

A computerized voter registration list will prevent voters from attempting to vote at more than one location, she said.

Currently, there are 23 proposed countywide polling locations, each of which will be equipped with software that flags voters and will prevent people from trying to vote in more than one location, Allyn said.

"We have the software to implement this," Allyn told commissioners, adding that an Internet connection will be required at each location.

The process also requires creation of an advisory committee to go over the list of proposed sites. Several new polling locations will be part of the effort, Allyn said.

Several spoke in favor of the change, including representatives from the city of Abilene and the Abilene Independent School District.

Community activist Odis Dolton said it was important that "as many of our citizens who want to vote, should vote."

"This will make it easier and make it more available," he said.

Leah Beltran, executive director of Disability in Action in Abilene, said the opportunity to choose a location should help many of those with disabilities by offering them closer access, while Republican Party chairman Nick Coates said that senior citizens would also benefit from the change.

"This is an exciting day," he said.

Commissioner Chuck Statler said commissioners have been "watching how vote centers have evolved, especially in Lubbock County."

"It's just been a great success and well-received by the public," Statler said of Lubbock's effort. County commissioners there voted in 2006 to participate in the state's pilot program for countywide polling places.

In other business, commissioners:

Renewed Taylor County's participation in the Texas Association Of Counties Risk Management Pool for 2014-15 property coverage.

Named H-E-B's RXtra Advantage program as the county's indigent health care pharmaceutical provider.

Awarded the county's precinct gasoline and diesel contract to Johnson Oil.

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