Reply #17: Pilot Program Could Change How Voters Vote [View All]

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Pilot program could change how voters vote
By KRYSTAL DE LOS SANTOS McKinney Courier-Gazette
(Created: Saturday, July 8, 2006 12:42 AM CDT)

A pilot program that may allow Collin County voters to cast Election Day ballots at places other than their precinct polling place will be the subject of a Collin County Commissioners Court public hearing on Tuesday.

The Texas Legislature last year ordered the Texas secretary of state to study the merits of countywide “super polling places” to see if a new system - similar to that used in early voting -- would be more convenient for voters and increase Election Day turnout. The pilot program in Collin County would reduce the number of polling places in the Nov. 7 election from about 135 to about 30 and allow voters to cast their ballots anywhere in the county.

The legislation requires counties participating in the pilot program to have computerized election equipment that would allow any precinct's ballot to appear at any location.

“It's not to make our lives easier. It's to make the voters' life easier,” said Vicki Self, senior secretary at the Collin County Elections Office.

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http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2006/07/08/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/news04.txt