Okay.
I'm here to support adopting countywide polling places for election
day, and because I think it's the right next step
for a county that takes elections seriously.
Right now, if a voter shows up at the wrong
polling location on election day, they can be turned away
or asked to cast a provisional ballot, and a significant
portion of those ballots are never counted.
That's a friction point we have the ability and I'd
argue the responsibility to reduce.
During early voting, Denton County allows voters to cast a
ballot at any location in the county.
Voters use that flexibility every cycle.
It's familiar and it works.
Countywide polling places simply extends that same system to election
day.
And this isn't theoretical.
Collin County, right next door, uses this model, and thousands
of voters use that flexibility on Election Day without issue.
A county that looks a lot like ours, managing just
fine.
More than a hundred Texas counties participate in this program.
Counties representing 87% of the state's voters.
And I'll tell you, some of those counties are where
the cows outnumber the people.
So if it works out there, I think we can
manage it here in Denton County.
These counties maintain secure precinct- specific ballots and accurate voter records,
and they've seen real improvements, fewer provisional ballots and smoother
election day operations.
This isn't an experiment, it's a track record.
It's also worth noting a handful of counties have tried
returning two precinct-specific only voting in recent cycles, and it
did not go smoothly.
They switched back.
The direction of travel here is pretty clear.
And this is not a partisan issue.
Countywide polling places don't change who can vote or advantage
any party.
They simply allow eligible voters, regardless of affiliation, to cast
a ballot at a location that fits their day.
Most voters aren't thinking in precinct boundaries.
They're thinking about polling locations, the library they pass on
the way to work, the rec center near school pickup,
the place that fits into a Tuesday.
y. And when that familiar location isn't available on election
da, it's disorienting
They showed up where they always have, the rules changed,
and nobody told them.
That kind of friction doesn't improve security.
It just makes voter hardering than it harder than it
needs to be.
A consistent system is easier to explain, easier to understand,
and easier to trust than one that works differently depending
on the time of year.
Denton County is growing, and our systems should grow with
us.
Countywide polling places is a practical proven step in that
direction, and I hope that you'll give it serious consideration.
Thank you for your time.