DECISION 2026
GOP must sign off on measure
GEORGETOWN — Republican voters could see a return to casting ballots at any Williamson County polling location pending a meeting this week of the Commissioners Court.
The session, set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Williamson County Courthouse, sets the stage for a resumption of countywide voting after numerous complaints arose out of partyspecific polling sites during the March 3 primary.
If the measure is agreed upon, it will take effect for the runoffs May 26.
At stake is whether the Williamson County GOP agrees to amend the contract the party signed mandating Republican voters could only cast ballots at their home precinct in the March primary election.
Republicans said they originally asked for the shift to protect voting integrity at the ballot box.
Williamson County GOP Chairwoman Michelle Evans did not go into details about any proposed changes that might come before the commissioners March 24.
However, she issued this statement: “We are in talks to modify our contract for Election Day for the primary runoff. We can’t speak to anything until it is finalized with the county.” Steps need to be taken to make voting less of a hassle, said Democratic Party Chairwoman Kim Gilby.
“It would be wonderful to work together and streamline the process and make it easier for Wilco voters to make their voices heard,” she said.
In March, because Republicans used handwritten ballots and Democrats used electronic ballots, there were separate voting locations for each party, officials said.
“We (Williamson County Democratic Party) never wanted precinct-level voting,” Gilby said. “We saw no reason to move away from countywide voting because it makes voting easier for everyone.”
However, under election statutes, the Democrats had to agree to the change and they did.
Dallas County also experienced widespread difficulties after dropping countrywide voting.
During the March 10 Williamson County commissioners session, several residents expressed their discontent with the March 3 voting procedures.
“We believe that all eligible voters should be able to vote as easily as possible,” Gilby said. “You can vote on your way home from work or while running errands.”
The change has set the stage for Texas Supreme Court action after a state district judge ordered polling places in Georgetown to remain open after the 7 p.m. cutoff March 3.
Some voters not aware of the changes said they were turned away from their traditional sites and told to drive to other locations to cast a ballot.
“We saw long lines, long drives and frustration for people on Election Day. It didn’t have to be this way,” Gilby said. “I hope we all learned a lesson for what people went through on Election Day and we never go through this again.”
Jose Orta, who has been a poll worker since 1996, spoke at the March 10 Commissioners Court. He described the chaos he witnessed at a polling site at Taylor City Hall, which has been a voting location for both parties for more than 10 years.
“We had a share of irate voters, both Republican and Democrat, who were turned away (from City Hall),” Orta said.
For the primaries, Taylor City Hall was a Democratic Party voting site for five precincts made up of parts of Hutto, Coupland, Elgin, Pflugerville and south Taylor.
“We started using countywide in 2013. We had 88 voting precincts then and have 177 now,” Gilby said. “We’re willing to do a joint primary with the GOP. This means working together, which saves costs and sharing equipment.”
Gilby said she hopes her party and the GOP can “put their differences aside and work together again.”
“The frustrating part of all of this is we’re all neighbors. We go to the same schools and same churches, and stand in the same lines at H-EB,” she said. “We need to put partisan politics aside and do what’s best for Williamson County. I’ve never understood why everything had to change on Election Day.”
After the runoffs, the midterm general election is Nov. 3.
The court meets at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.
