AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Democratic State Rep. John Bucy III is proposing changes to the state’s primaries in response to confusion in Williamson and Dallas counties.<\/p>\n
Both counties ended countywide voting for their primaries this year, which enabled voters to select a polling location of their choice. Instead, both counties instituted precinct-level voting, which required voters to vote at an assigned location.<\/p>\n
The change sparked controversy<\/a> and long lines on primary day, with the Supreme Court of Texas stepping in<\/a> after local judges extended voting hours.<\/p>\n In Williamson County, party chairs disagreed about where to place the blame over the debacle, as the Williamson County GOP made the decision to move away from countywide voting.<\/p>\n Under current Texas law, both parties must agree to host countywide polling locations. Otherwise, both parties must host precinct-level voting.<\/p>\n Bucy said on Wednesday that he plans to file legislation to change that rule. Instead, he wants Democrats and Republicans in each county to be able to make a decision about countywide or precinct-level voting independently.<\/p>\n “When parties can’t choose the option that best serves their community, voters pay the price,” Bucy said during a press conference.<\/p>\n He plans to file the legislation in 2027 and expects bipartisan support.<\/p>\n “This is not about blaming one party or defending another. This is about fixing a system that puts voters in the middle of decisions they don’t control,” the Central Texas state representative said.<\/p>\n Some GOP chairs in the Austin area are skeptical of the proposal.<\/p>\n