Early Voting begins today for the primary runoff election
Early voting in the Texas 2020 primary runoff election begins today, Monday, June 29, and continues through July 10. Election Day for the runoff, which was rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns, will be Tuesday, July 14,
Locally, the runoff primary election will be between David Fambro and Chad Ezell for the Republican nomination for Stephens County Commissioner, Precinct 1. There are a few state offices on the Republican ballot, depending on the precinct, and a couple of state races on the Democratic ballot.
Normally Early Voting for a run-off election is only one week, however due to COVID-19, and in an effort to try to avoid a lot of social congestion with lines to vote, they have extended the Early Voting period to two weeks, said Christie Latham, the Stephens County elections coordinator. The first week of Early Voting will be Monday, June 29, through Thursday, July 2, with no voting on Friday, July 3, because the Stephens County Courthouse will be closed for the Independence Day weekend. The second week of Early Voting will be Monday, July 6, through Friday, July 10.
Early Voting will take place at the courthouse, but this year’s set up is going to be a little different, Latham said. Because the east door of the courthouse is the only door open at this time and that hallway is often busy, the voting booths have been relocated to the front entryway of the courthouse. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided.
Currently, the rules for Ballots By Mail remain the same: Registered voters wanting to vote by mail must be over 65, disabled, or temporarily out of the county.
The last day to apply for a Ballot By Mail is Thursday, July 2, 2020. Ballots received by mail must be returned by mail, Latham said. They cannot be hand delivered to the Early Voting Clerk at the Tax Office. The only exception to the rule is on Election Day. If a person has requested a Ballot by Mail, the ballot may be returned to the Early Voting Clerk on Election Day only by the actual voter. No one can deliver it for them. Additionally, an affidavit must be signed and government-issued photo ID must be presented if the voter chooses to return their Ballot by Mail in person.
