Hays County debuts new voting equipment, polling program

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Early voting begins October 21 and Hays County is initiating some changes with this year's November elections.

Hays County has established a Countywide Polling Program that allows voting at any Hays County polling location during early voting and on Election Day, November 5.

The Hays County Commissioners Court has added 18 voting locations for Election Day and five new early voting sites. Texas State University will have a polling locating at the LBJ Student Center in San Marcos for early voting and Election Day.

In addition to the polling program, Hays County will be rolling out new voting machines that print a paper confirmation of a voter's selections and use a touch screen with the ability to toggle between English and Spanish.

The machine will ask if the voter is sure the selections are correct, then print out the selections in English or Spanish for review. If the vote notices a mistake on the printout, the ballot can be canceled with a poll worker's help, and the voter will be able to start over. Ballots are cast by placing the printout in a secure scanner that records the vote electronically. 

Hays County says the machines are ADA-compliant and can be used curbside for voters with mobility issues.

Voters who wish to try out the new machines can do so at the Courthouse on the Square, the Government Center in San Marcos, or the precinct offices in Dripping Springs, Kyle or Wimberley during business hours.

Early voting and Election Day locations are online. Additional information about voting, the new machines, and sample ballots are also available online.