09/03/2026
‼️BREAKING THE PATRON PLAYBOOK‼️WEBB COUNTY ENDS LMC’S LONGSTANDING RUN AS POLLING SITE‼️
Laredo, TX - For years, Laredo Medical Center’s use as a polling location has faced criticism as a potential tool of Laredo’s longtime patron-style politics, with concerns that doctors, employees or other politically connected individuals working inside the facility could hold a built-in “home-field advantage” when they or their associates run for office. With staff, patients and others already entering the hospital daily, critics have questioned whether candidates connected to the facility have easier access to potential voters than candidates on the outside.
That longstanding practice is now changing. In a move supporters see as progress toward greater neutrality and public confidence in local elections, Webb County Commissioners Court voted during a special meeting Wednesday, September 2, to remove Laredo Medical Center as a polling location for the November 3 Joint General Election.
During the meeting, county officials said complaints involving the LMC voting location had been received for months. Concerns included congestion and accessibility difficulties for elderly and physically challenged voters, limited privacy around voting machines due to nearby foot traffic and reports of electioneering occurring inside the facility near the cafeteria.
Officials said election workers had been required to repeatedly address campaigning concerns inside the facility, at times pulling personnel away from other responsibilities such as assisting curbside voters. The layout of the medical complex also created challenges when attempting to enforce the 100-foot electioneering boundary.
Another major issue raised during the discussion involved candidates maintaining professional offices within the same medical complex where voting takes place. Commissioners discussed how polling locations should not only be neutral but also maintain the public perception of fairness, particularly when a candidate could have an established professional presence inside the same facility.
LMC has historically been a heavily used voting location, leading to debate over whether the County should remove it or simply expand the number of voting sites. While officials acknowledged LMC’s turnout, the discussion ultimately centered on balancing voter participation with accessibility, privacy, neutrality and proper election oversight.
Commissioners Court ultimately approved removing Laredo Medical Center and adding alternative voting locations, including Specialty Hospital, Joe Guerra Library, Mirando City and the Justice Center. An additional location in Precinct 4 is also expected to be selected by the Elections Office if another proposed facility remains unavailable.
Officials additionally discussed strengthening enforcement of electioneering rules at polling locations and coordinating with law enforcement when necessary to ensure election workers can properly enforce voting-site restrictions.
The amended motion passed with commissioner PCT. 4 Ricardo Jaime voting against the changes, ending LMC’s longstanding role as a polling location and marking a significant change in how Webb County approaches accessibility, neutrality and public confidence at the ballot box.
