Williamson County’s Elections Office called in mid-day re-enforcement on Election Day Tuesday, as equipment for additional voting booths were brought to the Westinghouse voting site at Northstar Georgetown to accommodate voters who had been waiting for close to three hours to cast their ballots.
The Northstar Georgetown assisted living community — at 2401 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown – is the lone designated Democratic polling location for 13 different Williamson County precincts — 311, 330, 332, 333, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 353, 359, 369 and 372.
Cars lined up outside the polling location as voters parked in redline areas in order to vote. The waiting line outlined the perimeter of the indoor lobby space and was coiling with a second layer.
Several parents walked into the polling location and, within five minutes, walked out because they didn’t have enough time to wait in line and pick up their child from school.
“It’s ridiculous to put 13 precincts reporting to an assisted living facility that is, what, 10 miles away from the Republican voting area that's air conditioned and much more convenient for everyone to get to,” said James Fielding, who, while speaking to the Sun, was checking on his car that was in a tow-away zone because there were no spaces to park.
While county-wide voting was permitted during early voting, new Election Day rules for the ongoing primary election in Williamson County require voters to cast a ballot at a specifically-designated precinct-level location, based on their precinct and their party. This change was made to accommodate a request by the Williamson County Republican Party to remove the option for county-wide voting.
The ultimate goal is to have a “successful primary election with voters that are confident that their ballot is confidential, that their ballot is counted and that their ballot matters,” Republican Party Chair Michelle Evans previously said. “We’re doing what we can as the Republican Party to achieve that in the method that we feel is best for our party.”
Williamson County Democratic Party Chair Kim Gilby said election day was “a hot mess” across the country. In a phone interview with the Sun Tuesday, she said that percent-level voting has disenfranchised all voters: Democrat, Republican and independent.
“County-wide voting was so much better,” she said. “We were able to share resources; it was a cheaper use of taxpayer dollars. We should be making voting easier for people, not putting up obstacles. People should have the right to make their voices heard. It’s nonsense.”
The Sun reached out to Republican Chair Evans Tuesday afternoon for comment. She answered the phone, but said it was not a good time to talk.
Overall, there are 37 Democratic precincts in Georgetown, spread across five polling places.
For Republicans, there are 34 Georgetown Precincts, with nine Republican polling places to accommodate residents. The majority of Georgetown’s longtime polling places – Georgetown City Hall, Randalls, Emmaus Church and The Delaney — were designated for Republican voters Tuesday.
“It seems like they've isolated Democrats from voting,” Mr. Fielding said. “We're filling out petitions inside right now to sue the State of Texas for denying us our voting rights, because a lot of people are walking away because they can't stay here for two and a half hours or three hours to vote.”
For married couple Peter and Linda Thoom, they recently moved to Georgetown and waited two and a half hours to vote at Northstar Georgetown. They said the poll workers were pleasant and accommodating, but they said there could have been more preparation ahead of the election.
“Maybe, if we expect a high voter turnout, are you in the right setting? Have enough machines, if you only have four and two go down, you know how many are expecting?” Ms. Thoom said. “Maybe a little bit more pre-planning for what else can happen?”
“People all around us were saying they went to their usual polling place, and for whatever reason they were sent back here,” Mr. Thoom added. “There were no people there. This place is packed. Makes no sense.”
In the mid afternoon Tuesday, the Republican voting place at Georgetown City Hall had a small but steady line, with short waits of about 10 minutes or less.
Karen Smith, the assistant judge for the city hall polling location, said the decision to make voting on election day precinct-level voting with paper ballots had created a “learning curve” for everyone.
“Most of the voters [we’ve seen] seem uninformed, but we help them go to the right place [to vote],” she said.
The judge for the polling location, Jerry McCulley, echoed similar statements, saying there needed to be better advertisement about the changes and a stronger information campaign about what he saw as possible benefits of the changes.
With the changes, he also said poll workers have had to work harder to make people confident in their vote and that it was being counted correctly.
The experiences of the voters at Georgetown City Hall was a mixed-bag. Some voters found the experience easy, and others were sent to different polling locations, unaware of the change to precinct level voting.
Doug Ranney — who had voted at City Hall in past elections because he works nearby — said he was redirected elsewhere.
“I’ll probably just go back to work, and hopefully go vote tonight,” he said.
Another hopeful voter, when asked about his voting experience, said he, too, was in the wrong place.
“My experience hasn’t been great so far,” he said, quickly walking away from the polling location without providing his name.
Another difference on election day was the lack of availability of electronic voting machines for Republicans. Although it was an option during early voting and for Democrats, Republicans had to vote using paper ballots Tuesday based on the party’s recommendations.
Ms. Smith said no one at her location had asked for an electronic machine yet on Election Day, and there had been no issues with the paper forms.
Voter Pat, who didn’t want to give his last name but successfully cast a ballot at City Hall, said he and his wife Regan didn’t have any trouble voting with the paper ballots.
“We’re old folk,” Pat said, implying that they were used to it from previous experience.
Berry Creek resident Chris Harrison said he voted early at his usual polling location, but other members of his family were turned away on Election Day.
“This is wrong. People have been voting for years in the same place, and now on election day they’re being turned away? We’ve voted in the same place for 18 years, and now I can’t vote there as a Democrat, but the Republicans on my street can still vote there? That’s a dirty trick. That’s voter suppression.”
His daughter, Emily Harrison, was turned away at Frost Elementary and was told to try The Delaney, was then sent to Randells, and then finally to The Oaks, which is serving as a polling location for both Democrat and Republican precincts. She successfully voted there after waiting in a short line.
“My husband and I had a really hard time finding our location,” Ms. Harrison said. “We had always voted at Frost.”
“It’s a quick shuffle for everyone who doesn't know, and it's horrible horrible confusion,” Mr. Harrison said. “Of course, the Republican party was pushing for this. It’s voter suppression, and it's just a warmup for November.”
Becky, a poll worker at The Oaks Community Center who felt uncomfortable giving her last name, called Election Day “chaotic.”
“The biggest problem is that we have people who have come in, they voted here for years, and then they're told that they can't vote here anymore," she said. "Then they're told to go to another location, and then that location tells them, ‘No, you can't vote here, you have to go back to the location you were.' We’ve had some people that it's happened four or five times, very frustrated. It’s very difficult.
“You're here and committed to every person voting and having a right to vote. The way this election is being run right now is chaotic and it's not sustainable for either the workers or the people voting.”
"There's as many Republican voters that are angry and confused about this as Democrats. I have been personally chided by Republicans while trying to help people in line find out where they're supposed to vote, so I have to be hands off. I think everybody has a right to vote, and I take an oath to get people moving and to get them voted in in the right place. I'm not trying to encourage them to vote one way or another. I just want them to exercise their right to vote, and I think this is wrong."
The confusion stretched across the county. Walter Sinnwell Sr., who lives on the border of Florence and Jarrell, said he went to vote at the Sonterra Clubhouse in Jarrell Tuesday morning, only to be told his designated location was actually in Andice.
He went to Jarrell based on the precinct number found on the back of his older Voter ID card — Precinct 408 — and compared that with the official locations published on the county website.
“The state didn’t allow the county to issue us new [Voter Registration Cards], and when I called the state for my new information the lady on the phone told me to just use the old number,” he said. “To quote that Paul Newman movie, ‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.’ ”
He traveled to Andice and was able to successfully cast his ballot later in the day, he said.
Robert Squyres, a Republican who is a Granger resident, said he was planning on voting at Community Bible Church in Weir, where he's voted in the past, until he learned it was only a Democratic site on Election Day.
"It's so stupid," he said. "A lot of people at that church are Republicans and aren't gonna know they can't vote there. That's the dumbest thing I've heard. Who's idea was that?"
Election Day voting locations
Voting locations on March 3 are specified by precinct and party. Voters are only eligible to vote at their specific, assigned voting location based on precinct number. All locations will be open March 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those already in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be given a chance to vote after the 7 p.m. cutoff if they stay in line and wait.
Republican Primary voting locations
Georgetown:
Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, HR 108. Precincts:367, 368
Cimarron Hills Sales Office, 103 Cimarron Hills Trail West, Main Room. Precincts: 243, 245, 345
GISD Technology Bldg, 603 Lakeway Dr., Conference Room. Precincts: 305, 307, 346, 353, 371
Georgetown Randalls, 5721 Williams Dr., Deli Seating Area. Precincts: 306, 394, 395
Georgetown Film Alley, 420 Wolf Ranch Pkwy., Party Room. Precincts: 308, 341, 344, 370, 380
Georgetown City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr St., Community Room. Precincts: 314, 469, 470, 471, 472
Emmaus Church of Georgetown, 5060 East SH 29, Atrium. Precincts: 342, 359, 369, 438, 473
The Oaks Community Center Sun City, 301 Del Webb Blvd., Main Room. Precincts: 381, 393, 396
The Delaney at Georgetown Village, 359 Village Commons Blvd., Great Hall. Precincts: 379, 391, 392
Austin:
Anderson Mill Limited District, 11500 El Salido Pkwy, Room B. Precincts: 116, 118, 173, 174, 216
Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 10211 W Parmer Ln., Conference Room. Precincts:117, 166, 189
Pinballz Lake Creek, 13729 Research Blvd., Purple Room. Precincts: 146, 147, 175
Patsy Sommer Elementary, 16200 Avery Ranch Blvd., PTA Portable.
Precincts: 301, 302, 303, 320, 331
Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center, 5800 McNeil Dr, Lobby. Precincts: 151, 161, 162
Cedar Park:
Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main St, San Gabriel Room. Precincts: 230, 283
Cedar Park Randalls, 1400 Cypress Creek Rd, Deli Seating Area. Precincts: 204, 205, 254, 266
ACC Cypress Creek, 1555 Cypress Creek Rd., Bldg. 1000, Room 1102. Precincts: 276, 277, 279, 287
Treasure of the Hills Senior Center, 408 Ridgewood Dr., TV/Game Room. Precincts: 278
LISD Child Nutrition Services, 1900 Cougar Country Dr., Room 203. Precincts: 284
Florence:
Andice Community Center, 6600 FM 970, Main Classroom. Precincts: 309, 310, 312, 397
Hutto:
Rushcreek at Star Ranch, 350 Star Ranch Blvd., Clubhouse. Precincts 181, 489, 490
Christ the Rock Lutheran Church, 3250 Limmer Loop, Conference Room. Precincts: 401, 404, 405, 436
New Hope Christian Church, 9850 FM 1660, Sanctuary. Precincts: 402, 403, 418, 421, 426,
Hutto Bible Church, 150 Main Hippo Dr, Adult Classroom. Precincts: 419, 420, 484
Jarrell:
Jarrell Memorial Park Community Center, 1651 CR 305, Community Center. Precincts: 311, 409, 410, 412, 425
Trinidad Lael Bilingual Center, 300 Sonterra Blvd, Front Lobby. Precincts: 408
Leander:
First Baptist Church Leander, 10000 FM 2243, Gymnasium. Precincts: 201, 202, 203, 229, 231, 262
Leander Public Library, 1011 South Bagdad Rd., Annex Building. Precincts: 251, 256, 261, 263
Arista San Gabriel Model Home, 2305 Whistling Duck Dr., Model Home. Precincts: 252, 259, 260, 267, 330
Leander Randalls, 3441 North Lakeline Blvd., Deli Seating Area. Precincts: 253, 264
ACC San Gabriel, 449 San Gabriel Campus Dr, Multi-Purpose Room 1125. Precincts: 255, 257, 258, 265
Liberty Hill:
Wilco Cowboy Church, 8355 Ranch Road 1869, Inner Foyer. Precincts: 206, 208
Lone Star Oaks, 3354 County Road 236, Main Ballroom. Precinct: 207
Santa Rita Ranch House, 175 Elizabeth Park Blvd., Great Room. Precincts: 210,244,246
Vintage Church Liberty Hill, 170 County Road 214, Elementary Classroom. Precincts: 209
Union Hall Baptist, 301 Seward Junction Lp., Education Bldg./Fellowship Hall. Precincts: 211, 250, 332, 343
Kitfox’s Fun Center, 350 County Road 277, Main Lobby. Precincts: 212
Round Rock:
Allen R Baca Center, 301 West Bagdad Ave., Bldg. 2, Meeting Room 3. Precincts: 150, 155, 322
San Gabriel Rehab and Care Center, 4100 College Park Drive, Dining Room. Precincts: 139, 184
Brushy Creek MUD Community Center, 16318 Great Oaks Drive, Maple Room. Precincts: 340, 360, 398
Home2 Suites Bldg. 2, 425 East University Blvd., Meeting Space. Precincts: 143,149
Round Rock Randalls, 2051 Gattis School Rd., Deli Seating Area. Precincts: 163, 164, 180, 488
MCI Austin, 425 West Round Rock Dr., Main Sanctuary. Precincts: 186, 198, 317, 318, 338, 399
Old Town Elementary, 2200 Chaparral Drive, Science Lab. Precincts: 119, 123, 182
Round Rock Sports Center, 2400 Chisholm Trl., Tournament Room. Precincts: 437, 468, 482
Sleep Inn and Suites, 1980 South IH 35, Meeting Room. Precincts: 135, 136, 138
Fern Bluff Elementary, 17815 Park Valley Dive. Precincts: 319, 321, 323, 390
The Texas Hall, 4412 Sam Bass Rd., Main Hall. Precincts: 333, 372, 433
Wilco Jester Annex, 1801 East Old Settlers Blvd., Anderson & Harrell Room. Precincts: 144, 145, 191, 192
Journey of Faith United Methodist Church, 7301 CR 110, Fellowship Hall. Precincts: 422, 423, 424, 487
City View Bible Church, 2441 County Road 112, Lobby. Precincts: 485, 486, 491
Taylor:
Taylor ISD Event Center, 3101 North Main St., Event Center. Precincts: 429, 456
St. James Episcopal Church, 612 Davis St., Parish Hall. Precinct: 455
Thrall:
St. John Lutheran Church, 409 South Main St., Education Center. Precincts: 413, 434
Walburg:
Walburg Community Center, 4000 FM 972, Main Room. Precincts: 411,415
Democratic Primary voting locations
Georgetown:
Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, HR Training & Conference Room 105. Precincts: 308, 314, 341, 367, 368, 370, 380
Georgetown Fire Station #6, 6700 Williams Dr., Community Room. Precincts:305, 306, 307, 371, 381, 394, 395
Heritage Baptist Church, 1601 FM 971, Fellowship Hall. Precincts: 469, 470, 471, 472
Northstar Georgetown, 2401 Westinghouse Rd, Media Room. Precincts: 311, 330, 332, 333, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 353, 359, 369, 372
The Oaks Community Center Sun City, 301 Del Webb Blvd., The Oaks Room. Precincts: 379, 391, 392, 393, 396, 397
Austin:
Anderson Mill Limited District, 11500 El Salido Pkwy., Room A. Precincts: 118, 146, 147, 151, 161, 174
Spicewood Springs Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd, The Reading Room. Precincts: 162, 175
Ignite Medical Resorts, 16219 North RR 620, Conference Room. Precincts: 317,322
Patsy Sommer Elementary, 16200 Avery Ranch Blvd., Portable. Precinct: 303
Preserve at Rolling Oaks, 15450 FM 1325, Resident Lounge. Precincts:138
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 9500 Neenah Ave., Portables 1 & 2. Precincts: 117, 186, 189, 198
Cedar Park:
ACC Cypress Creek, 1555 Cypress Creek Rd., Bldg. 1000, Room 1102. Precincts: 216,266,276,277,278,279
Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main St., San Gabriel Room. Precincts: 230, 254, 283, 284, 287
Islamic Center, 1950 Brushy Creek Rd., Education & Activity Center. Precincts: 201, 203, 204, 205
Lakeline Oaks MUD, 1000 Old Mill Rd., Board Room. Precincts: 116, 166, 173
The Springs Healthcare, 1500 Cottonwood Creek Trl., Lobby. Precincts: 202, 229, 252
Florence:
Florence City Hall, 851 FM 970, Council Chambers. Precincts: 309, 310, 312
Hutto:
Rushcreek at Star Ranch, 350 Star Ranch Blvd, Clubhouse. Precincts: 401, 402, 403, 404, 421, 489, 490
Hutto Discovery United Methodist Church, 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd, Meeting Room 1. Precincts: 405, 419, 420, 422, 423, 424, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 491
Jarrell:
Sonterra Clubhouse, 510 Sonterra Blvd., Clubhouse. Precincts: 408, 410, 412
Leander:
Leander Senior Activity Center, 709 Municipal Dr, Election Room. Precincts: 253, 261, 262, 263, 264
Parinama Academy, 14300 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Unit 406, Main Hall. Precincts: 302, 320, 331
Park at Crystal Falls, 7860 183A, Phase 2 Clubhouse. Precincts: 259, 260
Pleasant Hill Elementary School, 1800 Horizon Park, Portable C01. Precinct: 231
Liberty Hill:
Liberty Hill Gym Annex, 301 Forrest St., Annex Gym. Precincts: 206, 208, 251, 255, 256, 257, 258, 265
Moonshine Yoga, 15050 West SH 29 Ste. 130, Yoga Room. Precincts: 207, 209, 212
Santa Rita Ranch House, 175 Elizabeth Park Blvd., Great Room. Precincts: 210, 211, 243, 244, 245, 246, 250, 267
Round Rock:
Allen R Baca Center, 301 West Bagdad Ave., Meeting Room 2. Precincts: 123, 150,180
Bait-ul-Muqeet Mosque, 800 Deep Wood Dr., Main Hall. Precinct: 338
Brushy Creek MUD Community Center, 16318 Great Oaks Dr, Maple Room. Precincts: 301, 318, 319, 321, 323, 340, 360, 390, 398, 399
Cedar Ridge High School, 2801 Gattis School Rd., Auditorium. Precincts: 163,164
Gospel Fellowship Austin, 2760 Gattis School Rd, Main Sanctuary. Precincts: 181
Grace Presbyterian Church, 1705 Gattis School Rd, Sanctuary. Precincts: 155
Old Town Elementary, 2200 Chaparral Dr., Science Lab. Precincts: 119,182
Round Rock Sports Center, 2400 Chisholm Trl, Multi-Purpose Room 4. Precincts: 433, 437, 438, 468, 482
Sleep Inn and Suites, 1980 S. I 35, Meeting Room. Precincts: 135,136
Texas State RR, 1555 University Blvd, Avery Building Room 256. Precincts:139,184
Waterloo Swimming, 751 Phillip Warner Pl, Classroom. Precincts:144,191,192
Wilco Jester Annex, 1801 E. Old Settlers Blvd, Anderson & Harrell Room. Precincts: 143, 145, 149
Taylor:
Taylor City Hall, 400 Porter St., Auditorium. Precincts:413, 418, 426, 455, 456
Wilco Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trl, Ron Morrison Meeting Room. Precincts:429, 434, 436
Weir:
Community Bible Church of Weir, 315 FM 1105, Sanctuary. Precincts:409, 411, 415, 425, 473