Nearly four years ago, there were long lines to vote and the machines at nearly a third of the polling locations suffered malfunctions. The problems in Harris County delayed election results statewide.
Harris County – not Lubbock.
The problems in Harris County (Houston) led to legislative changes impacting the entire state. A state investigation found ballots were left unattended, election workers were not wearing name tags and there was electioneering within 100 feet of the polling locations.
“They ran out of paper at some of the locations and had difficulty getting it there … we have never done that. I do want that known,” said Roxzine Stinson, Lubbock County elections administrator.
Stinson and her predecessor, Dorothy Kennedy, built Lubbock’s reputation for smooth elections and for successful vote centers.
Lubbock was not first to adopt the vote center system, but the county gained a reputation that was recognized by the Texas Tribune in a 2023 article.
Stinson’s last day is July 31. At age 68 and after 23 years in the county elections office – nearly five as administrator – she’s retiring.
Whoever follows her will have to master constantly changing voter requirements — including possibly the proposed SAVE Act.
Time for a change
“I think the office and elections have outgrown me – I guess is a good way to put it. It’s time for change and someone that can continue to grow with it – because every legislative session brings changes. And 2021 has brought the most in the years since I’ve been here,” Stinson said.
My son moved to Utah and I kind of miss not seeing him as much as I want to. So, I want to see him more than once or twice a year.
roxzine stinson
Even more legislative mandates came in 2023 and 2025.
But the biggest change was personal.
“My son moved to Utah and I kind of miss not seeing him as much as I want to. So, I want to see him more than once or twice a year.”
She’s even willing to get a fly fishing license to do that.
“I don’t want to fly fish. I want to sit in a chair on the bank. But I told him that way we could go fish together,” Stinson said.
She also wants to improve her sewing skills – she loves making clothes.
Her typical style of apparel is a dress and running shoes. The day she spoke to LubockLights.com was no different.
Stinson never planned on this career.
“I wanted to be a schoolteacher,” she told LubbockLights.com.
“This county’s been good to me. I cannot complain. I have been very blessed being here and been treated very well over the years, and I’ve enjoyed it,” Stinson said.
Hiring her replacement
Ronnie Keister, tax assessor collector said, “Rox is a great person. She’s got a great fun personality to deal with.”
The judge and I had a discussion about it. … We recognize that it’s probably going to be impossible to replace Rox.
ronnie keister
“She’s got a great mind for that kind of stuff,” Keister added.
Keister sits on the election commission which will hire the next administrator. With him are County Judge Curtis Parrish, County Clerk Kelly Pinion and chairs of the local Republican and Democratic parties.
“The judge and I had a discussion about it. … We recognize that it’s probably going to be impossible to replace Rox,” Keister said.
Her job was posted on the county website, and the Texas Secretary of State website, Keister said. People can apply for it just like any other job.
What does he want in the next administrator?
“The political world that they’re going to have to live in, you’ve got to have a good personality that can get along with people of all kinds of backgrounds. You have to be very inquisitive. You’ve got to be curious about things because the laws on voting and elections constantly change. So, you’ve got to have that desire to find out what the new law is, research it, figure out the best way to apply it,” Keister said.
Impact of SAVE Act?
The proposed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) passed the U.S. House and is pending in the U.S. Senate.
The SAVE Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, which would need to be shown in person. It also would expand photo ID requirements for voting. Supporters claim it ensures only citizens can vote. Opponents claim it creates a burden for people who are properly eligible to vote.
We asked Stinson if it’s good or bad.
“I’m going to be quite honest. I haven’t read any of it. I’m waiting to see what happens,” Stinson said.
But she thinks one thing is certain if it passes.
“I know part of it has to do with proof of citizenship. And if that falls on the elections office, it is going to involve more training for staff,” Stinson said.
“I think it’s also going to drive up the cost of running your office because you will have to have more staff in here and make sure everybody’s trained correctly and accurately on what needs to be done,” Stinson said.
Why you wait on provisional ballots
When asked if she had any interesting stories she collected over the years, she said yes. She informed a local government agency when provisional ballots were new.
The Texas Secretary of State said online, “Provisional ballots are used to ensure that all voters are able to cast a ballot even if voter eligibility is uncertain at the time the voter votes.”
Stinson said, “We told this entity, ‘Do not tell people they have won the election yet, because the ballot board had not had their final meeting – had not processed the final provisional ballots.’”
She held back the name of the local government in speaking with LubbockLights.com – just out of courtesy.
The provisional ballots turned the election.
“And they had already gone out and made a plaque and a sign for the candidate they said had won. And that candidate had not won. That candidate lost by a handful of votes because provisional ballots were accepted,” Stinson said.
From cotton to ballots
“I grew up in agriculture. … My dad was a cotton ginner and my mom worked in the office. So, we grew up around the cotton gins,” Stinson said.
The family moved around – Lubbock, Brownfield, Corpus Christi, Big Spring, Stamford and Big Sandy.
“Daddy followed the cotton gins a lot from season to season,” Stinson said.
My mother retired from full-time work at age 83. She still gets up, puts her clothes on every day … she sews and she does other things. She keeps herself busy and keeps a routine. And I realize that’s what I’ll have to do.
roxzine stinson
The family moved back to Lubbock the year she graduated high school. Stinson worked for McCarty Hull and Jones Produce.
“And I spent a couple of years traveling the country with a manufacturing company that made dog toys and dog beds,” Stinson said.
“Never worked elections until I came to work here. … Someone told me that there was an opening for a new office here at the county. And Dorothy [Kennedy] hired me,” Stinson said.
She went from clerk to chief deputy in two years. When Kennedy resigned in June 2021, the election commission hired Stinson.
The biggest challenge is making sure voters are properly registered – especially after a statewide system recently suffered technical problems.
“Some days it works great, other days it doesn’t,” Stinson said.
The other big challenge is finding volunteers and poll workers.
“Finding folks to work is a big challenge. It really is, because it’s not full-time work. But in years like this, with this many elections on top of one another, it just about is,” Stinson said.
After her retirement begins, she might come back as a central count judge or a polling location judge.
“My mother retired from full-time work at age 83. She still gets up, puts her clothes on every day … she sews and she does other things. She keeps herself busy and keeps a routine. And I realize that’s what I’ll have to do,” Stinson said.
