Vote Center concept brings added convenience to casting ballots on Election Day

Collin County will introduce the Election Day Vote Center concept for special elections slated on Nov. 3, and our Elections Department has tapped a few new resources to make it easier for voters to find a polling location.

Just as early voting allows registered voters to cast ballots at any polling locale before Election Day, a pilot program allows the Vote Center concept to work the same on Nov. 3 at 57 different locations. As long as you’re registered in this county, there is no need to worry about which precinct in which you’re registered and which polling location applies to that precinct.

Because of that, we’ve added tools and services to make it easier and more convenient to cast your ballot on that Tuesday.

Location, location, location

Since Collin County voters can cast ballots at any vote center, we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible to find a vote center close to your home, work or wherever you happen to be in the county while the polls are open.

If you want to pick your polling locale online, you can logon to our Election Day Polling Location Search, type any county address and zip code, and the interactive map will find the closest poll to you, plus tell you how to get there.

We’ve also posted the master list of all 57 locations, from the Allen Municipal Court Building to Fire Station #5 in McKinney to the Wylie Municipal Complex. While you’re viewing the list, take a look to the right hand columns, where we’ll have a traffic light to show you whether the poll is being used heavily or not – and an estimated wait time for each location. Don’t have a lot of time to wait in line? Scan for locales that aren’t as busy.

Text Service

Also, from October 31 up through Election Day, we’ll be providing a text service where you can send in your zip code and the mPulse messaging service will provide up to three vote center addresses nearest you.  If you’re interested in this type of service, please sign up for election information emails and we’ll get back with you with instructions. This is also where you can register to receive election results as they are updated by our staff.

Remember, Collin County is one of only four Texas counties participating in this state-sponsored pilot program. While the vote center concept might turn out to be how we vote in primaries and general elections in the future, this method is being tapped for the Nov. 3 Special Elections only. For that reason, we’re encouraging everyone to “test drive” these tools and cast their vote on Nov. 3.

For those who prefer to cast their ballots early, check out our Early Voting Locations and Calendar.

And to preview the three sample ballot styles that will be in use for early and Election Day voting, head over to our Sample Ballots Page.  

For more information on voting in Collin County, please visit our Elections Department.

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