The overview
Presented by Melissa Shannon, director of Bexar County Governmental Affairs, the agenda included two proposals designed to ensure wider access to voting and the third item requested funding for the redevelopment of San Antonio State Hospital.
Melissa Shannon said two of the initiatives regarded requests from the Bexar County Elections Office, which seek to solidify certain voting parameters. The first item, known as the federal postcard application, would send voting applications by mail to active service members who are away from their precinct.
“[Active service members] can get an application by mail, but once they get that application their name comes off of the early voting list. However, if they are in transit and end up coming back to their home and they go and try to vote early at home they are unable to do so,” Shannon said.
The second agenda item would oppose a recent push by the state legislature to eliminate countywide polling. If passed, Bexar County residents would be required to vote within their precinct.
The final legislative agenda item would request roughly $100 million to develop seven unused plaza buildings at the San Antonio State Hospital, which would provide more forensic beds for patients deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial.
