Brazos County, Texas — Concerns are rising over new election laws that could complicate the voting process in the area, as highlighted by County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock during a recent commissioners court meeting. Hancock emphasized the potential challenges posed by two significant changes: Executive Order 14248 from former President Donald Trump and Senate Bill 2753 enacted by the Texas Legislature.
Hancock pointed out key provisions of Executive Order 14248, which includes guidelines regarding voting systems. The order states that ballots should not embed votes within barcodes or quick response codes in the counting process, except to assist voters with disabilities. In response, she reassured the county’s officials that the Hart Verity system used in Brazos County does not incorporate these codes—other than where necessary for accessibility—opting instead for optical character recognition technology to accurately read and tabulate votes.
Another point of contention is Senate Bill 2753, which alters the voting timeline for the first time since 1987. The new legislation pushes early voting to begin 12 days before Election Day, starting on a Wednesday. This adjustment allows voters to vote on weekends, with extended polling hours on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hancock expressed concerns that the changes might lead to increased demands on poll workers, many of whom are senior citizens.
“Given that the average age of our election workers is around 79, I’m worried about the fatigue this change could impose,” Hancock said. She noted that the extended voting hours might result in an estimated additional cost of $5,000 for payroll on Election Day.
Incoming county judge Kyle Kacal, a former Texas Representative, assured those present that solutions would be sought to handle the changes effectively. “We will find a way to implement these changes efficiently and economically so that voters can have confidence in our elections,” Kacal stated. He was recently appointed to the position as current Judge Duane Peters recovers from health issues.
Although Kacal attended the meeting, he was not able to preside as he is still awaiting an official swearing-in and the passage of his bond by the commissioners. In the interim, Precinct 2 Commissioner Chuck Konderla is acting as the county judge.
Kacal, reflecting on his upcoming role, expressed enthusiasm about bringing his legislative experience to local governance. He kept the door open regarding future political aspirations, commenting, “I’m focused on my responsibilities here and now, not looking that far ahead.”
As of now, Kacal is expected to be sworn in next week, bringing a new dynamic to the Brazos County government.
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