East Texas election office impacted by new law that extends early voting hours and days

QUITMAN, Texas (KLTV) - Only a few days are left for early voting in the March primary election. For some smaller counties, this election is the first time they’ve added extra hours and days.

One of those locations is the Wood County Election Office which is now extending its early voting hours. This is part of a new law, that makes counties with a population of 55,000 or less add extra days and hours.

“It is a big deal for our small county we had to bring in several additional poll workers for early voting,” said Laura Wise the election administrator at Wood County.

This location normally has 8 to 10 people working, but now they have more than 20 poll workers. Laura says that these extra hours are taking a toll on their funds.

“It was unfunded by the state, it’s huge on our budget being a small county,” said Laura.

Besides extra costs, they’re getting adjusted to being open on Sunday.

“It’s just new to us we’ve never done that before,” said Laura, “We did have concerned voters asking us why are you open on Sunday.”

On this last week of early voting, they must remain open for 12 hours Monday through Saturday.

“It’s just getting harder to find people that want to work like that, 12 hours a day is hard... the majority of our workers are retired, 65 and up,” said Laura.

Poll workers are vital for elections to take place. Brenda Hunter, a deputy clerk in this location has been working in elections for the past decade.

“We do everything pertaining to voting,” said Brenda.

Most poll workers only get paid $12 an hour, regardless of their experience. Even so, for Brenda her role is important.

“My parents, and grandparents were always big stressors on the right to vote, it’s very important we should exercise it and I’m just following in family tradition,” said Brenda.

That’s also the case for Sarah Phillips who has been working in elections for almost 20 years.

“My mother never missed working the polls, when she was a poll worker and she instilled that in us,” said Sarah.

This new law aims to give voters in rural areas more opportunities to vote.

“I don’t think it’s bringing in more voters but more room to kind of space out a little bit,” said Laura.

Laura also says they usually have three branches during early voting, but they now only have one location due to extended hours. The last day to vote early is this Friday.

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