Poll: Most respondents agree with extension of opportunities for voting at Texas State
The Record’s online poll from Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 asked readers whether the Hays County Commissioners Court made the right decision to open more polling locations.
Texas State University students received two more days of on-campus early voting and will be able to vote on campus on Election Day after a unanimous decision of the Hays County Commissioners Court to open three early voting locations in the county for additional days.
The commissioners’ emergency meeting was prompted by the threat of litigation from the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP). The TCRP made demands on behalf of two Texas State students, MOVE Texas Action Fund and the League of Women Voters of Hays County to reopen the campus early voting location and add an Election Day voting site in order to avoid a lawsuit.
TCRP’s demands came after Democratic candidate for the Texas House of Representatives Erin Zwiener posted on social media an excerpt from an email allegedly sent by Wally Kinney, head of the North Hays County GOP, to a group of Republicans urging them to talk to Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones about denying any extended early voting opportunities on campus. The email states in part that extended early voting on campus “favors Democrats and we sure don’t want to do that in this — what is going to be — a close election as it is.”
The poll asking, “Do you think the Commissioners Court made the right decision to open more polling locations?” received a total of 93 votes, with the majority of votes – 75 percent or 70 votes – going to option “Yes, it was making it more difficult for students to vote.” Twenty-five percent, or 23 votes, chose, “No, it was too late in the election season.”
A majority of poll voters think adding more polling locations to make voting more accessible was the right decision. Every week, the Record gives its readers the opportunity to voice their opinions on different topics. This poll does not, and does not purport to, accurately depict public opinion. It is only intended to inspire thought-provoking discussion within the community.
SMDR’s new poll is available online now, and asks for readers’ opinions on whether they are less likely to vote for a candidate who uses negative advertisement. It can be voted on now.
