1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:00,800 Okay. 2 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,840 I'm here to support adopting countywide polling places for election 3 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,760 day, and because I think it's the right next step 4 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,720 for a county that takes elections seriously. 5 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,960 Right now, if a voter shows up at the wrong 6 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,760 polling location on election day, they can be turned away 7 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,800 or asked to cast a provisional ballot, and a significant 8 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,280 portion of those ballots are never counted. 9 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,760 That's a friction point we have the ability and I'd 10 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,320 argue the responsibility to reduce. 11 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,600 During early voting, Denton County allows voters to cast a 12 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,680 ballot at any location in the county. 13 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,000 Voters use that flexibility every cycle. 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,680 It's familiar and it works. 15 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,840 Countywide polling places simply extends that same system to election 16 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:38,320 day. 17 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,080 And this isn't theoretical. 18 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,440 Collin County, right next door, uses this model, and thousands 19 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,280 of voters use that flexibility on Election Day without issue. 20 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,560 A county that looks a lot like ours, managing just 21 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:51,120 fine. 22 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,480 More than a hundred Texas counties participate in this program. 23 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,000 Counties representing 87% of the state's voters. 24 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,560 And I'll tell you, some of those counties are where 25 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,320 the cows outnumber the people. 26 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,320 So if it works out there, I think we can 27 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:06,400 manage it here in Denton County. 28 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,440 These counties maintain secure precinct- specific ballots and accurate voter records, 29 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,680 and they've seen real improvements, fewer provisional ballots and smoother 30 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,280 election day operations. 31 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,560 This isn't an experiment, it's a track record. 32 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,360 It's also worth noting a handful of counties have tried 33 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,520 returning two precinct-specific only voting in recent cycles, and it 34 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,120 did not go smoothly. 35 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:30,400 They switched back. 36 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,520 The direction of travel here is pretty clear. 37 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,680 And this is not a partisan issue. 38 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,280 Countywide polling places don't change who can vote or advantage 39 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,080 any party. 40 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,160 They simply allow eligible voters, regardless of affiliation, to cast 41 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,360 a ballot at a location that fits their day. 42 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,720 Most voters aren't thinking in precinct boundaries. 43 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,240 They're thinking about polling locations, the library they pass on 44 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,360 the way to work, the rec center near school pickup, 45 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,600 the place that fits into a Tuesday. 46 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,720 y. And when that familiar location isn't available on election 47 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,320 da, it's disorienting 48 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,200 They showed up where they always have, the rules changed, 49 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:09,560 and nobody told them. 50 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,200 That kind of friction doesn't improve security. 51 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,000 It just makes voter hardering than it harder than it 52 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,120 needs to be. 53 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,040 A consistent system is easier to explain, easier to understand, 54 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,760 and easier to trust than one that works differently depending 55 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,120 on the time of year. 56 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,720 Denton County is growing, and our systems should grow with 57 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:28,120 us. 58 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,480 Countywide polling places is a practical proven step in that 59 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,000 direction, and I hope that you'll give it serious consideration. 60 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:35,960 Thank you for your time.