Comanche County Election Office Seeks $3,931 After Budget Cuts, Early Voting Moves to Fairgrounds Annex

Comanche County Election Board Secretary Amy Sims went before county commissioners asking for $3,931 to cover pre-election expenses for the Nov. 3 general election. The request comes after the Election Board budget was cut 9.95 percent to $235,917, with the election expense account reduced from $15,000 to just $5,000. Sims has already paid $1,880 out of pocket for off-site ballot storage, because the courthouse doesn’t have the space to hold them securely.

There’s a change voters need to know about, too. Early voting Oct. 28-31 is moving to the Great Plains Fairgrounds Annex. The courthouse Jury Assembly Room is booked for a trial docket starting Nov. 2, so the usual early voting spot is unavailable. District 3 Commissioner Josh Powers noted that many voters will show up at the courthouse out of habit and have to be redirected to the Coliseum area. With 63,311 registered voters in the county and nearly 3,000 typically casting in-person absentee ballots, the location change matters.

Commissioners voted to delay action on the funding request rather than approve it outright. District 2 Commissioner Johnny Owens said he will get it worked out. Election Day is Nov. 3, and early voting starts Oct. 28, so there’s not much runway left. Where do you plan to cast your ballot this year, and does the new early voting location change your plans?