Texas legislature orders Brazos County to almost double polling centers, but election officials say it’s not possible
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Texas recently passed a bill to increase voting polls within Brazos County from 28 to 55.
Brazos County has 109 precincts and 28 polling centers, but the Texas legislature wants certain counties to double their number.
“You would think in a county our size that it would be fairly easy to find locations, but it is not,” Brazos County Election Administrator Trudy Hancock said.
Hancock says more polling centers require more equipment and workers, which they don’t have the cash or resources for.
Plus, the process has already begun here in Brazos.
“We’ve already started on ballot layout,” Hancock said. “And then once we start programming those places, our locations have to be pretty well set.”
Some locations include the Lincoln Center, College Station City Hall, and the MemorialStudent Center at Texas A&M.
Brazos County general election voting centers
One of the new locations is the Bryan Ballroom off Palasota Drive, and sales manager Joana Rodriguez says she’s ready for the rush.
“So right now, I don’t think we are too worried,” Rodriguez said. “We have plenty of staff on hand, and if we need to call some people, we have contacts as well.”
Election officials say they are going to start programming their equipment in the next two weeks.
Early voting starts October 21, and you can cast an early ballot at five locations: the Brazos County Election Administrator’s Office, Arena Hall, Galilee Baptist Church, College Station Utilities Meeting and Training Facility, and the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University.
