Bills could raise election costs, local administrator says

Several bills submitted to the Texas House of Representatives and Senate could change the May uniform date of elections in Young County and place added costs on the cities that request local elections, the county’s election administrator said. Young County Election Administrator Lauren Sullivan told the commissioners court on Monday of her concerns about bills under consideration, and the added costs they could bring to cities here. Sullivan said that since local election districts span multiple counties, those requesting elections would have to pay each county contained in their district. “In Young County we have several of those districts that extend into other counties and if they move to the November date, they would have to pay each county for a full election, poll workers, ballots, equipment, administrative fees, everything,” she said. Bills related to moving May elections introduced in the House and Senate this session include: HB 365, by Republican Rep. Drew Springer; HB 999, by Democrat Rep. Celia Israel; HB 1271, by Republican Rep. Mike Lang and three other Republican co-authors; SB 173, by Republican Sen. Donna Campbell; and SB 363, Republican Sen. Charles Perry. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.