Houston Chronicle: On Wednesday, Waller County commissioners approved early voting and Election Day polling places, including a new one at the historically black university’s Memorial Student Center. Student Government Association president Priscilla Barbour, who requested the polling place two months ago, said she was thrilled by the decision. For years students have had to walk or drive more than a mile to the nearest polling place, which Barbour says is a violation of students’ civil rights. “It was just that sigh of relief,” said Barbour, a senior political science major. “I didn’t know if I wanted to jump up for joy or cry. This has been a long journey.” In July, Barbour sent a letter to Waller County Registrar Robyn German and Texas Secretary of State John Steen asking them to remedy what she and civil rights leaders described as decades of voter suppression in the county. The city of Prairie View accommodates students with a polling location on campus, but Waller County officials have refused to do the same, she said. “I feel that this was a combined effort by the Election Administration Office, (Waller County) Judge Glenn Beckendorff, Commissioner Jeron Barnett, the secretary of state, True the Vote and yes, Ms. Barbour,” German said in an email.