Williamson County officials are exploring alternative options for voter polling locations in the city of Hutto, with the county-owned Hutto Annex building still undergoing renovations and potentially for sale.
Hutto City Council denied the county use of City Hall for early voting and election day in the upcoming March primaries unless other options are first exhausted.
What’s happening
At a Jan. 22 Hutto City Council meeting, Williamson County Elections Administrator Bridgette Escobedo requested use of Hutto City Hall as a polling location. The city and county previously partnered in May and November 2025 to use the site for voting.
“I come to you, hat in hand, because there are no other viable options here in the city of Hutto," Escobedo said at the meeting. “And so, my concern is if we don't have this facility, we don't have voting in the city of Hutto."
Hutto council members voted to use City Hall as a last resort option, stipulating that the county should consider local churches and the Hutto Annex building first.
“Having early voting here, I believe, disrupts city activities, services and also availability for the public to use this physical facility,” Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder said.
Some context
The Hutto Annex building is a county-owned facility that is currently undergoing renovations. Williamson County Facilities Director Dale Butler said that renovations could last another month or two, making the building “not in a usable space.”
Escobedo said that the building is potentially being listed for sale.
“It could be available today but not available tomorrow,” Escobedo said. “We don't want to make that promise to the voters that we're going to have that location, and we're not able to have it ... at the last minute.”
What they’re saying
County commissioners expressed frustration at a Feb. 10 meeting over logistical challenges in securing polling locations in Hutto.
“I'm highly disappointed that the city is not stepping up and embracing voting locations and making it more accessible,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said at the meeting.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said using city halls for elections is common, and while it changes operations, it doesn’t impede them.
“I mean, who really is losing [is] the voters, and particularly with the growth that that town has seen, it just seems like this [is an] opportunity to make sure people get out and get involved,” Boles said.
Something to note
Early voting begins Feb. 17. Election day for the March primaries is March 3.
