[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
[E. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
CITIZEN COMMENTS AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. HER NAME IS MARY CLARKSON.PLEASE START A THREE-MINUTE TIMER. IF YOU WOULD APPROACH THE PODIUM.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION. THE SUPPRESSION OF VOTERS IN THE LARGEST SECTOR -- VOTING SECTOR IN THE COUNTY WAS DONE THIS LAST ELECTION BY PLACING A STORAGE CONTAINER AT THE SPRINGS RANCH PARK TO BE USED AS A POLLING PLACE THAT HAD NO ELECTRICITY, NO BATHROOMS, NO SECURE DOORS , WASN'T A.D.A. ACCESS. THE ONLY REASON THEY GOT TURNED DOWN WAS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T PASS A.D.A.. AFTER MANY CITIZENS CALLED THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND OTHER ENTITIES EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN FOR THIS BOX THAT THEY WERE GOING TO USE FOR ELECTIONS. I REALIZE THAT LOCATIONS ARE DIFFICULT TO PROCURE AND I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTION JUDGE FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN THAT SECTOR. MAYBE IT'S TIME TO START THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO TO SECURE LOCATIONS. THE GROWTH WILL NOT STOP, BUT ONLY GET WORSE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ELECTION OFFICE NEEDS MORE STAFF FOR HIGH-VOLUME ELECTIONS. THE WAIT TIMES WERE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE USES THEIR POOL FROM THE WHOLE SECRETARY OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT AND GET PEOPLE TO COME, BECAUSE I HAD POLL WATCHERS THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THEY HAD A CLIPBOARD. WHY CAN'T WE CROSS TRAIN PEOPLE AND GET THEM WHEN SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS HELP? YOU SHOVE THEM OVER THERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT EVERYONE LIKES A CHANGE OF PACE. WE NEED TO START THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU HAVE A POOL OF PEOPLE WHO IN THE COUNTY THAT WORK CAN BE USED IN OTHER FACILITIES. MY LOCATION VOTED 7353 PEOPLE AND I WAS ONE OF THREE EARLY VOTERS IN DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA. WE HAD TREMENDOUS TURNOUT . WE NEED TO FACILITATE OUR VOTERS IN A MUCH BETTER WAY THAN WE DO
NOW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT IS OUR ONLY
[F.1. Discussion and possible action to canvass the November 5, 2024 General Election results. BECERRA/DOINOFF]
CITIZEN COMMENTS. NEXT, IF YOU WILL PLEASE OPEN F1. >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CANVAS THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS.
>> SUBMIT. >> SECOND. >> NAME AND TITLE FOR THE GOING
PUBLIC? >> HAYS COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR AND WE MADE IT THROUGH THE ELECTION AND IT WAS RELATIVELY -- THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, IT WAS RELATIVELY SMOOTH AND WE DIDN'T HAVE EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR DISTURBANCE IS THAT WE PLANNED FOR . EVERYTHING WENT RELATIVELY SMOOTH. WE DIDN'T GET ANY TERRIBLE PHONE CALLS, BUT A HIGH VOLUME OF PHONE CALLS, AS MARY TOLD YOU. IT IS HARD TO HAVE TEMPORARY PEOPLE TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS , BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS AND CAN'T DO ALL THINGS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO. THAT IS A PROBLEM WE CAN DISCUSS OF HOW WE CAN HANDLE THAT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING WENT VERY SMOOTH AND IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL
ELECTION. >> DO YOU MIND IF I CHIME IN? >> SURE.
>> POST HAVE ASKED ABOUT HAVING LITTLE ICONS ABOUT WAIT TIMES AT PARTICULAR BOXES. I WAS WONDERING HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE TO USE I.T. TO HELP US HAVE THE SAME WONDERFUL FEATURE
FOR OUR RESIDENTS? >> WE DO . >> THE WAY THEY POST THEM IS
DIFFERENT THAN OURS. >> THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT SOFTWARE, BUT YES , IT REQUIRES SOMEONE FROM THE POLLING LOCATIONTO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. WE DO CONSTANTLY SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS FOR THEM TO UPDATE THEIR WAIT TIMES , WHICH IS PROBABLYWHERE THE FAILURE
IS AT THAT POINT. >> NO PROBLEM. I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH RIT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT EVEN EASIER FOR FOLKS TO FIND IT AND HAVE ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE? >> I WAS GOING TO GO INTO
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STATISTICS. I GAVE EACH OF YOU THE RECONCILIATION THAT LOVED SO MUCH LAST TIME. THAT IS THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL DETAILS , THEN I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, TOO, THAT WE COMPLETED PARTIAL TO THIS CAMPUS AND WE COMPLETED BOTH PARTIES, SO WE HAD REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE FURTHER .5 DAYS COUNTING BALLOTS AND IT WAS AN EXTENDED PARTIAL MANUAL COUNT THIS YEAR AND THE STATE -- WE HAD THE THREE PRECINCTS THAT WE USUALLY DO FOR EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE, BUT WE COUNTED THREE RACES, PRESIDENTIAL, U.S., SENATE AND WE HAD SIX ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS THAT WE COUNTED FOR THE SAME THREE RACES AND NO DISCREPANCIES. EVERYTHINGWORKED OUT FINE. >> OF COURSE IT DID. >> WERE YOU GOING TO ADD
SOMETHING? >> I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS IN THE STATEMENT EARLIER THAT I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY YOUR STAFF, BUT EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF AND UNEQUIVOCALLY OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT STAFF. AT THE END OF THE DAY , THE LOCATION AND WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS TO FIND AN ADDITIONAL LOCATION WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THEY WORKED VERY WELL WITH US . HONESTLY, THE DAY BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTED , OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WAS OUT THERE WITH SIX TONS OF ASPHALT TO ENSURE THE ENTRANCE TO THE DOOR WAS A.D.A. COMPLIANT . EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE AND THAT WE STRIVE TO THE PARKING LOT, SIGNAGE AND NONE OF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF NOT FOR THE COOPERATION OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR HELP AND I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO THAT. IN SPEAKING WITH CITY OFFICIALS IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE LOCATION IN PERPETUITY AND NOT HAVING TO USE THAT FACILITY , BUT IT TURNED OUT WELL . OUR WORKERS WERE HAPPY WITH THE SPOT THEY WERE IN. I COULDN'T HAVE HAD MORE SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> AGREE. ANOTHER TEAM THAT I WANT TO THANK IS OUR ELECTION INTEGRITY TEST FORCE. WE DIDN'T GET MUCH. ANY LEGAL CONSEQUENCE, BUT THEY WERE RIGHT ON IT AND THEY SAID WHAT THEY WERE SAID THEY WOULD. WE ANSWERED THOSE EMAILS EXPEDITIOUSLY AND WITH A SMOOTH
ELECTION. >> THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WORKED IN THE POLLS. IT IS A TOUGH JOB GETTING HARDER IT SEEMS AND I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO DOES THAT AND OUR JUDGES AND POLL WORKERS, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S CHALLENGING. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL DOING IT. SINCE JENNIFER MENTIONED THE RECONCILIATION FORMS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME FROM THE LESSONS WE LEARNED IN THE PAST, COULD YOU BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING OR WATCHING IN THE FUTURE? WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO CHECKS IN AT ALL LOCATIONS WILL VOTE AND MAKE SURE HOW MANY VOTES ARE ACTUALLY CAST AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE EQUAL IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO CHECK IN TO VOTE WHO END UP NOT CASTING.
>> ESSENTIALLY, IT IS A BREAKDOWN IN ALL WAYS THAT A VOTER CAN CHECK IN HE AND ALL VARIOUS TYPES OF BALLOTS THAT THEY CAN CAST , INCLUDING LIMITED BALLOTS, EARLY VOTING , CONFIDENTIAL VOTERS, MAIL BALLOT VOTERS , THEN PROVISIONAL VOTERS. IT BREAKS THOSE OUT FOR YOU AND SHOWS YOU WHAT WAS REJECTED AND SHOWS YOU WHAT WE HAVE TALLIED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL WAYS OF VOTING. ANY DISCREPANCIES, WHICH FOR US WAS 16 OUT OF 128,000 WITH 845 CHICKENS. THOSE WOULD USUALLY BE FLEEING VOTERS AND WE GOT REPORTS FROM MANY LOCATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD TO COME BACK THE DAY AFTER, WHICH YOU CANNOT DO. THEY HAD TO BE CAST THE DAY THEY WERE CHECKED IN AND ISSUED . I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THAT, BUT WE DO A GOOD JOB OF MAKING IT AS MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT DISCREPANCY WILL BE THERE , THEN IT IS
SIGNED OFF BY THE JUDGE OF CENTRAL COUNT. AND, POSTED. >> I THINK THE 1909 IS SUCH A HIGH NUMBER AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S FROM, BUT
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IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHY WE REJECTED 1900 TIMES. >> THOSE WOULD BE VOTERS WHO CAST A PROVISIONAL BALLOT THAT EITHER WERE NOT REGISTERED AT ALL OR WERE NOT REGISTERED IN OUR COUNTY . MOST OF THOSE ARE ELECTION DAY, BECAUSE IN EARLY VOTING, THEY CAN VOTE A LIMITED BALLOT, BUT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION, BUT IT'S AVAILABLE ON ELECTION DAY AND IF YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE 13 LIMITED BALLOTS AND WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE GOT THOSE IN THAT PROCESS IF IT WERE AVAILABLE ON ELECTION DAY, BUT IT'S NOT. THAT IS WHY THOSE WERE REJECTED.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU. I KNOW IT WAS PROBABLY VERY CHALLENGING, BUT YOU DID WONDERFUL AND I DIDN'T HEAR A PEEP ABOUT ANYTHING IN OUR PRECINCT, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM DID AND IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. IN REGARDS TO THE TOTAL BALLOTS REJECTED , WHAT WERE THE MOST COMMON REASONS THAT THE BALLOT
WAS REJECTED? >> FOR THE MAIL BALLOTS, THE 222 IS PRIMARILY GOING TO BE BECAUSE EITHER THEY WERE NOT TIMELY OR THEY WERE SENT BACK FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION AND THE VOTER NEVER CORRECTED THEM. FOR THE FTCA , PRIMARILY THE SAME THING. THEY CAME IN ON THE SIXTH DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, SO THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THEM, THEN THE PROVISIONAL . THEY WEREN'T REGISTERED IN OUR COUNTY OR AT ALL.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. WE DO HAVE TO RUNOFF ELECTIONS. CITY OF
SAN MARCUS AND CITY OF KYLE. >> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE BEFORE WE CAST A VOTE. WE HAVE THREE FRESHLY ELECTED -- WELL, TWO FRESHLY ELECTED AND ONE RE-ELECTED IN THE COURTROOM, SO I JUST WANT TO TELL THEM, ONCE WE CANVAS AND VOTE , IT IS A HARD THING TO EVER TRY TO UNDO IN SOME KIND OF WAY. JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE POURING CEMENT OVER
SOMETHING . PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >>
>> WE HAVE OFFICIALLY SAID THAT THIS IS GOOD, RIGHT AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE AND WE JUST
[F.2. Discussion and possible action to adopt an Order canvassing returns and declaring the results of the road bond election. BECERRA/DOINOFF]
ACCEPTED IT, SO YOU ARE OFFICIALLY LOCKED IN. PLEASE OPEN AGENDA ITEM F2.>> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADOPT AN ORDER CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARE
THE RESULTS OF THE ROAD BOND ELECTION. >> MOVE.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOVE AND SECOND. ONE MORE TIME.
>> I'M NOT TO THAT PAGE YET . IT PASSED . I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
>> CONSIDERING THE PERCENTAGES. >> HOW DID YOU WANT ME TO DO THIS? DID YOU WANT THIS BY
PRECINCT ? >> I THINK PRECINCT IS FINE. >> BY THE PRECINCT?
>> THAT IS HOW THE ORDER IS ORGANIZED, AS WELL. >> I THINK THAT IS --.
>> THAT WILL TAKE ME A LITTLE LONGER. >> NOT THAT I'M THE
NONATTORNEY NERD THAT READ THAT. >> I KIND OF KNEW THAT, TOO.
YOU WANT ME TO READ HAYS COUNTY PROFIT A? >> JUST THE MAIN NUMBERS.
>> PRECINCT 110 AND TOTAL BALLOTS CAST? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? ALL THE WAY DOWN? IT IS NOT ON MY REPORT THAT WAY. OKAY. TOTAL BALLOTS CAST , 1866 , 112, TOTAL BALLOTS CAST , 1329 , 113 AND THE TOTAL BALLOTS CAST ARE 1326, 114, TOTAL BALLOTS, 963, 115. 2003 57 , 120. 121, 1654 , 125, 1000, 113, 128, 100,000 TO 65, 134, 1520 , 136, 1818 , 1786, 621, 142, 2234, 146, 203 -- SORRY -- 203 1000 . 2000 188, 2028, 216, 542, 219, 928,
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220, 3364, 221, 4000 HUNDRED 92 , 225, 441, 227, 300,231, 231, 3839, 252, 3297 , 314, 316,325, 591 , 332, 2800, 33, --. >> ARE YOU INTENDING TO LIST THE TOTAL REGISTERED VOTERS? THAT IS THE COLUMN YOU ARE GOING ON. IS THAT WHAT YOU INTENDED?
>> NO. >> I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU SWITCHED OVER, BUT IT TOOK ME A
SECOND, BUT AT SOME POINT YOU SWITCHED OVER. >> THAT WAS AT 134.
>> GOOD JOB. GOOD CATCH. IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO CATCH IT. >> WE GOT TO DO THE
SUBCATEGORIES. >> I STARTED AT 134. >> I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE BEST IF IT'S OKAY NOW THAT YOU ARE ALREADY OUT OF BREATH IS THE WAY THE ORDER IS AND BACKUP FOR THE BOND IS VOTES FOR AND AGAINST. IS THAT OKAY WITH THE COURT IF WE DO IT THAT WAY?
>> YOU WANTED TO START OVER? >> IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO TRACK YOUR NUMBER. I APOLOGIZE.
>> WILL HUNDRED 10 , 4998 AGAINST 716 , 113, 4716 AGAINST 478, 115 120, 1092 -- 121, 125 128, 132 AND 221 AGAINST. 134, 466 AGAINST. 1000 177 AGAINST. 992-4533 AGAINST . 100 . 1002 66 FOR AND 523 AGAINST. 203, 1000 AGAINST.
216 AND 117 AGAINST. 219 AND 270 AGAINST. 220 1294 AGAINST. 2239554 FOR . 683 AGAINST. TRY TO GET YOU 253 1174 AGAINST. 250 FOR AND 797 AGAINST. THERE HUNDRED 14 . 6694 744 AGAINST.
319639 FOR . 560 AGAIN. 200 AGAINST. 332-7794 AGAINST .
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1001 AGAINST. 565 AGAINST. 344987 FOR. 351505 FOR. 236 AGAINST. 942 AGAINST. 373133 FOR. 141 AGAINST. 423804 FOR AND 537 AGAINST. 425354 FOR. 332 AGAINST. 961 FOR. 432916 FOR. 798 AGAINST. 436926 FOUR. 199 FOUR . 598 FOR. 484 AGAINST. 481793 FOR . OR FOR .14424 AND 902 AGAINST. 337 FOR AND 520 AGAINST. 1014 FOR. 903 AGAINST. 1073 AGAINST. 448673 FOR. 783 AGAINST. 1032 FOR. 1012 AGAINST. 535 AGAINST. 451 . 463 AGAINST. NO VOTES IN 453.
I'M DONE. >> THANK YOU. WELL DONE. I'M FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND THEY READ A LOT FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMS PRETTY GOOD JOB. AND IT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION OUT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MUCH TROUBLE, WE HAVE TWO NEWLY ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR A QUICK PICK WITH THE TEAM. WE WILL DO IT WHILE THE CAMERA IS RUNNING, SO THAT IT GETS RECORDED.
>> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
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WELL DONE. WELL DONE. WE HAVE ONE LAST ACTION . MOTION TO ADJOURN .* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.