Voting Centers Deemed Successful by the State

TYLER — After receiving approval by the state, Smith County will use voting centers for all future county-wide elections. In a news release, county Elections Administrator Karen Nelson says she and her colleagues are “very excited to be able to give convenience and flexibility to voters.” The voting centers allow residents to vote at any of the 34 polling locations in Smith County on Election Day instead of being restricted to their precinct.

Nelson said keeping all 34 voting locations consistent for each election will be an advantage for voters. The November Election saw more voters turn out, especially for a Constitutional Amendment election, than in the past, and she credited the Voting Center concept. Voters were given the opportunity to fill out surveys on the voting Centers, and Nelson said they showed overwhelmingly positive feedback from Smith County residents.

Since the state last year approved Smith County’s plan to implement the voting centers, the Elections Department was required to hold a public hearing to gather input from voters and submit an election report detailing the results of the November Election. The state then designated that the election was “successful,” authorizing the county to continue to use the program for subsequent elections.