File photo
File photo
In an effort to not have a repeat of residents being denied a chance to vote, Walker County election officials opened polling stations to all registered voters living within the county.
Thousands of votes were previously thrown out and an unknown number of voters weren´t able to cast ballots during the last presidential election due to voters showing up to the wrong polling stations.
“I know firsthand that several poll places cannot withstand social distancing standards, especially given the potential turnout an election like November brings.” Walker County Judge Danny Pierce said, according to The Huntsville Item. “Communicating to voters will be much easier if we are able to promote voting at any location on Election Day, rather than restricting voters to specific locations.”
Texas also has one of the highest rates of poll closures in the country. Diana McRae, the Walker County elections officer, announced she will be shutting down five more polling stations, which leaves 11 in the county.
The expansion of mail-in voting was also brought to a halt May 27 when the Texas Supreme Court sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who argued the risk of contracting COVID-19 does not qualify a voter to automatically receive a ballot by mail. The court did order counties to send mail-in ballots to those who claim being immuno-compromised as a disability.
“We were asked to prepare for what is expected to be a high turnout for the November general election,” McRae said, according to the Item. “Many of our polling locations are small and can’t handle social-distancing recommendations. The countywide polling place program has been implemented in other counties and has been successful in helping end voter confusion.”
Early voting will move from the Walker County Storm Shelter to the Walker County Annex to help uphold social-distancing standards.
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