Williamson County commissioners heard citizen comments April 15 during a public hearing about the Countywide Polling Place Program, which was designated a successful status by the Texas Secretary of States office.

County elections officials also hosted an open house for residents to learn more about the countys vote centers, which allow voters to cast a ballot at any Williamson County voting location on election day.

The hearing was the last stepto finalize the designation, which will allow Williamson County to conduct elections using vote centers without applying for them each timewiththe Secretary of State. However, the county must submita final report to the state following each election, Williamson County Elections Administrator Jason Barnett said.

[The upcoming May elections are] now going to be our third time using vote centers, Barnett said.

Two citizens spoke during the public hearing to express their concerns about the electronic voting machines. Several others said theysupport the move to vote centers to help ease confusion about polling locations on election day.

Our intent is to make voting easier, not more complicated, County Judge Dan Gattis said.

County Commissioner Valerie Covey said she likes usingvote centers because they allow voters to vote at any location.

You dont have to worry about showing up at the wrong location, she said.

The countys vote centers received a 97 percent approval rating from voters who were surveyed in an exit poll during the November 2013 elections, Barnett said.

Williamson County has conducted two previous elections, including the May and November 2013 elections, using vote centers. Itwill use vote centers for each general election for state and county offices, each local election in May, the 2014 primary run-off election as well as each proposed constitutional amendment election, according to a news release from the county.

For more information about vote centers, visit www.wilco.org/elections.