Hays County Commissioners Discuss Creation Of Community Elections Commission

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court discussed the creation of an all-inclusive Community Elections Commission to establish a diverse county-wide representation.

Several people spoke in favor of the commission’s creation to represent the residents of Hays County.

Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe-Gonzales said she agreed the commission was a good idea and that the county and court would benefit from the help on determining the best sites for the voting centers.

Commissioner Walt Smith said he’d like to hear from the Elections Administrator, Jennifer Anderson, and review the issues that were brought up during last Monday’s special meeting and Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Smith also wanted to know more details on the type of positions that would be on the commission.

“What I mean by that is just to ensure that there is someone from each municipality that can speak on behalf of that municipality,” Smith said. “That there is someone from communities that we can identify as a group or that may be recommended from the league of women voters or whoever working in conjunction with the elections. I would like to see a list of who they think is needed.”

Smith said he also wanted to make sure that the court received some recommendations on what they are allowed or able to have the commission do under state law. 

Commissioner Lon Shell said he supported the commission but he could go back and forth on whether elected officials should be allowed to serve on the commission.

“I can go back and forth on that, but I probably, personally, would lean toward not,” Shell said.

Becerra said in his mind, the commission would have nothing to do with the Elections Administrator or the precinct judges; his focus for the commission was to address concerns expressed by voters during the workshop last week and the polling locations.

Chief of Staff, Alex Villalobos, said he believed the commission’s purpose was to simply have a diverse group come together and really address some of the issues “we were having with regards to locations and overall operation of those voting centers.”

Linda Calvert, President of the League of Women Voters of Hays County, advised commissioners to lean away from representatives from the school districts, municipalities and elected officials.

Calvert said the commissioners were discussing representatives from entities that had already been involved in the polling center selection process, and that the commission should focus on bringing in underrepresented groups, such as, voters.

Becerra said he and Smith will continue to work on it and bring more detailed information back to the court at a later date.