El Paso, TX – On Monday, March 24, 2025, the El Paso County Commissioners Court approved a resolution supporting the Countywide Polling Place Program and the continued use of electronic pollbooks in future elections. The program allows voters to cast their ballots, similar to Early Voting, at any vote center of their choice on Election Day.
“Vote centers have been popular among El Paso County voters since first used in the November 2020 Presidential Election. El Paso County voters have come to rely on the convenience and choice that the Countywide Polling Place Program offers. In our most recent Presidential Election, 60% of voters who voted on Election Day chose to vote outside their precinct. That’s an increase from 27% in the November 2020 Presidential Election,” said Lisa Wise, El Paso County Elections Administrator.
When natural disasters or other emergency management issues arise during voting, polling locations across the county and state are displaced, rendering precinct-based voting unsuitable due to the limited number of public buildings in each precinct.
The program also allows voters with disabilities to cast their ballots at a vote center that best suits their needs.
The resolution further supports the use of electronic pollbooks, emphasizing that eliminating them would limit transparency and hinder the ability for voters, parties, and candidates to perform their own audits and reconciliation during elections.
“The El Paso County Commissioners Court supports the continued use of countywide polling places and electronic pollbooks, recognizing their importance in making voting more accessible, secure, and efficient for all residents,” the resolution states.
“It would be devastating if the program were discontinued, creating mass confusion across the county. Our office has received positive feedback since the introduction of the program, and voters love the convenience of voting at a location of their choice, whether it’s located near their place of employment, favorite shopping spot or their home” Wise added.
El Paso County Resolution
WHEREAS, El Paso County has successfully participated in the Countywide Polling Place Program, which allows voters to cast a ballot at any polling location within the county, rather than being restricted to a single precinct; and
WHEREAS, the Countywide Polling Place Program has provided increased convenience and accessibility for voters, particularly those with demanding work schedules, students, seniors, and individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, many El Paso County residents commute long distances for work, making the flexibility of countywide polling places essential for ensuring they can exercise their right to vote; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of countywide polling places has contributed to increased voter participation and reduced the number of provisional ballots, improving election efficiency and voter confidence in the process; and
WHEREAS, eliminating the Countywide Polling Place Program would place a significant burden on voters, election administrators, and poll workers by requiring a return to precinct-based voting, which presents logistical challenges such as securing an adequate number of accessible polling locations and staffing them appropriately; and
WHEREAS, natural disasters, emergencies, and unforeseen circumstances have demonstrated the importance of a flexible voting system, as precinct-based voting can be easily disrupted by polling location closures or displacements; and
WHEREAS, The El Paso County Commissioners Court supports the continued use of countywide polling places and electronic pollbooks, recognizing their importance in making voting more accessible, secure, and efficient for all residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned elected officials strongly oppose any effort by the Texas Legislature to eliminate the Countywide Polling Place Program and electronic pollbooks.
