AUSTIN COUNTY ELECTIONS TO FEATURE VOTE CENTERS

  

The Austin County Elections Office is going to implement a new program to hopefully make casting votes a little easier.

Austin County Tax-Assessor Collector Kim Rinn, who also oversees the Elections Office, announced the use of Vote Centers for the May 7 Election, and all future elections.

Vote Centers, also known as the Countywide Polling Place Program, enables any registered voter in the county to vote at any Vote Center polling place on Election Day.

Previously, a voter had to go to one certain location based on registration address, but the new program allows voting convenient to work, commuter route, or home.

Austin County formally applied with the Texas Secretary of State’s office back in January.

Requirements were that they form an advisory committee made up of representatives of each of the county’s voting districts, create a computerized voter registration list, hold a public hearing, and get Commissioners Court approval.

Austin County will join 84 counties across the state of Texas who currently participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program.

Election day polling will be located at the following locations: Austin County Fair and Expo Center, Austin County Annex-Wendt Street, Industry City Building, Bleiblerville Volunteer Fire Department, New Ulm Volunteer Fire Department, St. John Lutheran Church of Cat Spring, Sealy Columbus Club Hall, San Felipe de Austin State Historic Museum’s Meeting Room, Father Bernard Snock Religious Education Center, and the Wallis Columbus Club Hall.