At a regular Wednesday meeting of the San Jacinto County Commissioners Court in Coldspring, Democratic Party Chair Benita Malone raised concerns about Elections Administrator Cheri Walker and how election judges are scheduled. Malone said she was told there was not enough money budgeted for Democratic judges to work during early voting.
Malone said two election workers could not attend state-mandated training and were not offered a makeup session. She said Walker told her anyone who had not attended the training would not be allowed to work on Election Day. Malone said she is seeking a new training session for the two judges. Walker told the court that four training sessions were offered this year.
Malone said the issue is about free and fair elections, not partisanship, and asked that county-approved election workers be allowed to work on Election Day and at every location. County Judge Fritz Faulkner questioned Malone's election experience, saying he has been involved in county elections for 60 years. Malone said she has lived in the county for three years. She said she did not intend to offend the court and that it is her responsibility to know the rules.