Bexar County, Texas Engages Outside Vendor to Boost Voter Registration
Bexar County in Texas is taking a proactive approach to boost voter participation for the presidential election in 2024 by partnering with an external vendor. The move involves the outsourcing of voter registration drives, a step that builds upon the county’s goal of making voting easier for all its residents.
Proactive Approach to Voter Registration
On Tuesday, the County Commissioners in Bexar County voted 4-1 in favor of allocating approximately $600,000 towards a subscription with Civic Government Solutions (CGS). CGS boasts a comprehensive database of unregistered voters, tracks voters who relocate from other regions, and provides pre-filled voter registration forms with prepaid return envelopes.
Benefits of CGS Services
Typically, non-profit groups, political parties, and individual campaigns have handled voter registration outreach, targeting potential supporters based on voter history or data. CGS, however, employs a ‘wide-net’ approach, seeking out all eligible voters who may not appear in regular commercial voter databases. They send customized persuasive messaging and state-specific instructions to potential voters. The combination of these efforts has shown to maximize returns.
A Non-Partisan Effort or Not?
Although the move by Bexar County aims to increase civic participation across the board, local Republicans have expressed their unease. They have criticized the spending of public funds to amplify voter turnouts in what is considered a Democratic stronghold. The dissenting vote was cast by Commissioner Grant Moody, the court’s sole Republican member, leading to a healthy discussion during Tuesday’s meeting.
CGS Responds to Protestations
In an interview, Jeremy Smith, CGS CEO stressed that the service is aimed at boosting civic participation without any partisan motivation. Smith argues that the organization’s attempts to ease the voting process haven’t altered the political leanings of impacted states. He shared that CGS has already identified 250,000 prospective registrants in Bexar County, which is roughly 75% of the county’s eligible unregistered voters.
Future of Voter Registration in the County
The innovative partnership with an external vendor signals a forward-looking approach to voter registration in Bexar County. As Commissioner Rodriguez emphasizes, counties are given the responsibility for voter registration under the election code. Consequently, CGS’s innovative method operates within this purview. The outsourcing move is also intended to lighten the workload of the Election Administrator’s office.
Engaging the Community
In a win for voting rights advocates, the county also approved the revival and restructuring of the county’s Elections & Voter Engagement Advisory Committee. Each commissioner and the county judge will nominate one representative to advise the county as it initiates a national search for its new election chief.
Fulfillment of a Citizen’s Civic Duty
Bexar County’s move to partner with CGS aims to fulfill its civic duty by making the voting process easier and more efficient. The move, which has the backing of the majority of commissioners, represents a commitment to inclusive democracy where every voice deserves to be heard.