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Push for Hand-Counting Ballots Could End Countywide Voting in Palo Pinto Primaries

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Reporting By Amy Meyer / Editor / Mineral Wells Area News

Palo Pinto County’s Republican Party is weighing a major change to how elections are run, one that would eliminate countywide voting in primaries and require ballots to be hand-counted at individual precinct polling sites.

The proposal, permitted under new Texas law, was discussed Wednesday during a Palo Pinto County Election Board meeting led by County Clerk Janette Green and Elections Administrator Laura Watkins.

Watkins said Republicans made her aware of the request about two weeks ago. She then began researching the impact it would have on the County. She promptly notified the County Judge and Commissioners who are currently working on the 2025-26 annual budget. These costs had not been included in her proposed expenses she submitted for next year and indicated this change would carry steep costs and strain local resources

“This isn’t about whether we can do it — my office can do it,” Watkins said. “My problem is that I don’t want anything to go wrong. And if an election doesn’t run right or something happens, it falls on me.”

Watkins said her office would need at least $187,000 in new equipment plus as many as 210 additional workers to manage hand-counting. “I can’t even imagine trying to find 210 people to work, much less keep them trained,” she said, noting the average age of election workers in the county is about 70.

State reimbursements would cover only a fraction of those costs. “If one of the parties chooses to hand count, we go from a system where the county is out very little money to a system where we’re out nearly $200,000 — and we don’t get that back,” Watkins explained. That shortfall, she stressed, would be absorbed locally. “Ultimately, this falls on the taxpayers,” she said.

No Fraud Found

Supporters argue hand-counting would strengthen election security, but critics said the change is unnecessary.

“We’ve had audits in Parker, Stephens and Palo Pinto counties,” said a voice from the back of the room, identified as a longtime county resident and polling place volunteer. “There’s been no issue of voter fraud or machine errors. I just don’t see the need to change,” they said.

Laura Watkins, who has over 20 years experience in election administration, indicated they have not had any problems with voter fraud in Palo Pinto County.

Parties Splits

Palo Pinto County Democratic Party Chairwoman Carla Schoonover said her party does not want to abandon electronic tabulators or countywide voting.

“We’re glad [the administrator] is doing it for us,” Schoonover said of the current system. She explained this change would force them into closed primaries if it’s adopted by the Republicans, but said the Democratic Party would still utilize the electronic machines to cast and tally votes.

Republican County Chairwoman Barbara Upham did not take a public stance in the meeting, but one of the county precinct chairs, Johanna “Joey” Miller of Gordon, spoke in favor of the move.

Miller is a leader of the Palo Pinto County Conservatives which is an off shoot of the Parker County Conservatives. She said the hand count desire reflects the state GOP platform’s call for hand-counting and election integrity measures. However, the consensus in the room was to leave the local election process alone.

Impact on Voters

Critics warned the shift would make it harder to vote. Under countywide voting, residents can cast ballots at any polling place, and Watkins said turnout has increased since the system was adopted. Many voters now choose the Annex in Mineral Wells as a convenient location.

“My biggest fear is we’re going away from 28 percent [turnout] at the Annex to only three precincts voting there,” Watkins said. “People like going there. They don’t want to be told they have to drive somewhere else.”

If hand-counting is approved, countywide voting would end for primaries, and voters would be required to cast ballots only in their assigned precincts. These changes would only impact the primary elections held in March.

Decision Ahead

The decision will not be made by county officials but by the Republican County Executive Committee, made up of all elected precinct chairs. With newer conservative members now holding power after an 2025 County Convention realignment, the newer conservative leadership are in the majority. The committee has the votes to adopt hand-counting for the March 2026 primaries if it chooses.

That means county residents who want their voices heard must contact their precinct chairs, who are elected representatives of local voting districts.

Watkins emphasized that while her office will comply with the law and the parties’ decisions, voters should be aware of the consequences.

“I work for 23,000 people who live in this county, and my phone will ring 23,000 times if this doesn’t go right,” she said.

What It Means for Voters

Contact Your Precinct Chair

The decision on whether Palo Pinto County primaries will be hand-counted rests with the County Executive Elections Committee, made up of elected precinct chairs. If you want your voice heard, reach out to your chair listed below:

Republican Precinct Chairs in Palo Pinto County

🗳️ Check your voter registration card to see your precinct number, then reach out to your chair to share your opinion on whether Palo Pinto County should move to hand-counting ballots.

“That means county residents who want their voices heard must contact their precinct chairs, who are elected representatives of local voting districts,” Elections Administrator Laura Watkins said.

Find Your Precinct on the Map

Not sure which precinct you live in?

📍 Click here to view the official Palo Pinto County Precinct Mapbook (PDF)

Your precinct number is printed on your voter registration card and corresponds with the map.

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