Montgomery County Denies May Election Services

Montgomery County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 against approving new Interlocal Agreements (ILAs) for the upcoming May 4th election during their January 23rd meeting, a decision that will significantly impact local entities accustomed to county-provided election services.

These ILAs are the standard mechanism through which the County Election Administrator’s office delivers comprehensive election services to cities, school districts, and Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) within Montgomery County. Services typically include setting up polling places, preparing voting equipment, and managing election day staff. A critical 90-day deadline before an election for these agreements to be finalized translates to February 3rd for the May 4th uniform election date.

The court’s decision was primarily driven by concerns raised by Election Administrator Suzie Harvey. Harvey informed the Commissioners Court that her office is currently grappling with significant equipment issues and a severe staff shortage. She emphasized that the 90-day window is not merely for signing contracts but is crucial for the extensive preparatory work required for an election. Harvey stated she had been communicating these concerns for months, noting her team faces a “massive amount of work” and is operating with only about 15% of their voting equipment in reserve, a notably tight margin.

Commissioners expressed varying perspectives on the matter. Commissioner James Noack questioned the sudden emergence of these issues, referencing the seemingly smooth operation of the November 2023 election. Commissioner Robert Walker highlighted that providing election services via ILAs is a “courtesy” extended by the county, not a legal obligation. Commissioner Charlie Riley also voiced concerns about why many of these local entities appeared to wait until the last minute to request services.

As a direct consequence of this vote, approximately 20 entities that traditionally rely on Montgomery County to administer their elections will now be required to independently conduct their May 4th elections or secure alternative solutions, all while facing the rapidly approaching February 3rd deadline.

The final vote saw Commissioners James Noack, Robert Walker, Charlie Riley, and County Judge Mark Keough vote against approving the new ILAs. Commissioner Rex Koogle cast the sole dissenting vote in favor, indicating a desire for a compromise for entities that had already begun working with the county on their election plans. This vote marks a new precedent for how smaller, local elections will be administered in Montgomery County going forward.