Early voting underway at courthouse
Early voting got underway today, Monday, Oct. 23, for the special constitutional amendment election on Nov. 7. The ballot includes seven proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
Stephens County residents can vote at the Stephens County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voting booths are set up in the hallway on the east end of the building just outside the tax office. Early voting will end on at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3.
Residents can also cast their votes on Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at their assigned precinct. To be eligible to vote in this election, a voter must have been registered to vote by Oct. 10.
Election Day voting precinct locations:
Precinct 1 and 5: First National Bank Showcase and Tower Room, 101 E. Walker, Breckenridge
Precinct 2: First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 1601 W. Elliott, Breckenridge
Precinct 3: Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, 100 E. Elm, Breckenridge
Precinct 4: BISD Service Support Center, 907 U.S. Highway 183 North, Breckenridge
Also, according to the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, in order to vote in person in the election, voters must present an acceptable form of photo identification.
Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:
- Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS
- United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
- United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States passport
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.
Texas voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID have additional options when casting their ballots.
As provided by court order, if a voter does not possess and is not reasonably able to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, the voter may vote by (1) signing a declaration at the polls explaining why the voter is reasonably unable to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, and (2) providing one of various forms of supporting documentation.
Supporting documentation can be a certified birth certificate (must be an original), a valid voter registration certificate, a copy or original of one of the following: current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, although government documents which include a photo must be original and cannot be copies. If a voter meets these requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.
Voters with a disability may continue to apply with the county registrar for a permanent exemption to showing approved photo ID (which now may be expired no more than four years) at the polls. Also, voters who (1) have a consistent religious objections to being photographed or (2) do not present one of the seven forms of approved photo ID because of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may continue to apply for a temporary exemption to showing approved photo ID at the polls.
Voters with questions about how to cast a ballot in the elections can call 1-800-252-VOTE or in Stephens County contact the Stephens County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office at 254-559-6513.
Cutline, top photo: Precinct Judge Beth Calvert waits for voters at the Stephens County Courthouse Monday morning as early voting got underway for the special constitutional amendment election on Nov. 7. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
