GOP breaks silence onVote Centers:
What they say is outrageous!
Learn the truth about Vote Centers, then...
After four years' silence on why the Denton GOP is blocking countywide Election Day voting for Denton County, the local Republican party chair this week gave a public explanation.
Her arguments are based on unfounded claims and the premise that Election Day voting rules should be set for the convenience of Republican Party insiders, not the needs of voters.
"Convenience is not always good," said Melinda Preston, the GOP County Chair, at the July 8 County Commission meeting.
She ignored the thousands of voters of all political persuasions who are victims of Election Day confusion now. 10-15% leave the first polling place they visit on every Election Day now without voting, frustrated and sometimes disenfranchised.
You can see her comments in the 3.5-minute video to the right.
Here's a summary of her Six Reasons for protecting our outdated system:
1. Countywide voting would open the door to corruption.
But she doesn't say how this would happen.
We already have countywide voting during Early Voting when more than half of all Denton County voters cast their ballots. All Texas voters can vote anywhere in their county during Early Voting, and have done so for decades.
We're not aware of any voting corruption scandals caused specifically of Early Voting in our county. If you know of any, let us know.
2. Countywide voting would lead to long lines at polling places.
Our current system has long lines on some Election Days in some locations. At least with Vote Centers, everyone would get to vote when they got to the front of the line!!!
It’s up to the County Commissioners -- all Republicans -- to make sure there are enough locations and poll workers to meet voter demand. The state also sets minimum standards for numbers of polling locations.
3. Election Day vote centers would create confusion.
She didn’t say how a move to countywide Election Day voting in all elections would cause confusion, but we certainly have a lot of it now with the current system.
Countywide voting is allowed now during Early Voting, but not on Election Day.
Most Denton County voters are unaware of this rule. Neighboring counties don't have this rule. Voting locations frequently change from one election to the next and between Early Voting and Election Day in the same election.
Local TV and radio newscasters tell voters on Election Day they can vote anywhere in the county -- which they can in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties -- but not Denton County.
This results in thousands of confused, frustrated and sometimes disenfranchised voters on every Election Day.
Click image to see the 3.5-minute video.
4. Countywide voting on Election Day would force the Denton Republican Party to change the date and time of a meeting held once every two years for party insiders.
This argument is about the convenience of GOP party insiders over the convenience of voters.
"Precinct conventions" are held once every 24 months in GOP polling locations late at night on primary Election Day after the pools close and all the votes are tallied and sent to the Elections office. Very few people show up.
In 99 other Texas counties — with 85% of Texas voters — that have countywide Election Day voting, the Republican Party holds precinct conventions at other times and places. The GOP generally seems to be doing pretty well in those counties, despite the change.
5. Voters would lose the warm feeling of meeting their friends in the assigned precinct polling location where they are now forced to vote on Election Day.
Most voters want to get in, cast their ballot and get on with their business as fast as possible. Are there areas of Denton County where Election Day voting is a big social occasion? Not that we know of!
6. Countywide voting on Election Day would endanger ballot secrecy.
This claim is based on something that happened 2 years ago in another county because of a fight between factions in the Texas GOP. It didn't happen in Denton County. It's very unlikely it could happen today
The former chair of the state GOP allegedly had his vote revealed by other Republicans in 2024 because of countywide voting. This DID NOT happen in Denton County.
This is a problem the GOP itself caused and now wants to use as an excuse to continue to confuse and frustrate voters...including it's own voters!
This problem arose because the GOP Attorney General told local elections officials to release ballots in response to public requests immediately after an election rather than waiting 22 months, as had been the rule for years.
A new 2024 state law addresses the issue and the Texas secretary of state recently issued guidelines for handling ballots in similar situations that should protect voter secrecy going forward.
And she didn’t say that our county elections staff knows what they need to do to protect our ballots should these bad actors try this here.