Breckenridge Texan

Today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day in Texas and across the United States. Polls will be open until 7 p.m. in Stephens County.

In the three weeks of Early Voting, combined with Ballots by Mail that had been received by last Friday, 53 percent of the local voters have already cast their ballots, according to Stephens County Elections Administrator Christie Latham. There were 2,745 voters who voted at the courthouse during the Early Voting period and 279 Ballots by Mail that had been received. There are 5,672 registered voters in Stephens County, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

To cast a ballot today, voters must go to the precinct where they are registered to vote. The precinct is listed on your voter registration card and also is available on the Am I Registered? Web page.

Election Day voting precinct locations:

• Precinct 1:  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
• Precinct 5:  Wayland Volunteer Fire Department, 10276 FM 1852

Voter ID

In order to vote in person, a voter must have an acceptable form of identification. The Texas Secretary of State’s Office lists seven different acceptable forms of ID; voters need to have one of the IDs with them in order to vote.

The acceptable forms of ID are:

• 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 Handgun License 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 (book or card)

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

If you don’t have one of those forms of ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, there are some alternatives. More details are available on the Secretary of State’s Vote Texas website.

Curbside Voting

For voters who can’t or don’t want to go into the polling locations to vote due to concerns about COVID-19 or other concerns, Stephens County is offering curbside voting, which allows a voter to vote from their vehicle outside the voting location.

To arrange for curbside voting, call Latham’s office at 254-559-2732 and make the arrangements. At your designated precinct, an election official will go out to your car with a ballot and a form to verify the voter’s identity. After the voter marks their ballot, he/she will place the ballot in a “secrecy envelope” and the election official will deliver it to the ballot box.

BALLOT BY MAIL

If you have a Ballot By Mail that you have not mailed in, you may deliver it in-person to the appropriate precinct through 7 p.m. today, Nov. 3. The voter must return the ballot him- or herself; it may not be delivered by another person. The voter must show their government-issued photo ID and must sign an affidavit when returning the Ballot by Mail in person.

For ballots that have been mailed, the deadline for the Election Administrator to receive a Ballot by Mail is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 (Election Day) if the carrier envelope is not postmarked, or Wednesday, Nov.4, 2020 (next business day after Election Day) at 5 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply), according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.

County Election

In the General Election, the only contested race for Stephens County is the one for Sheriff. The Republican candidate is Kevin Roach, and the Democratic candidate is Kathy Marcom. Click here to read their Candidate Profiles, which they submitted before the Primary Election earlier this year.

Additionally, there are several races with unopposed candidates:

Stephens County Commissioner Precinct 3 Will Warren, Tax Assessor-Collector Christie Latham, County Attorney Gary Trammel are running unopposed. Robert Wayne McMullen is running unopposed for Stephens County Constable  to replace current constable Adam Babilon, who retiring and not seeking reelection.

Also, 90th Judicial District Judge Stephen Bristow and District Attorney Dee Peavy are running unopposed for those offices.

The General Election also includes the races for state and national offices.

For more information on the specific races on the ballot, click here to see Stephens County’s sample ballots.

City Election

In April, Breckenridge City Commissioners approved an ordinance to officially cancel the May 2 City election and postpone it until Nov. 3. The cancellation was required by order of the Texas Secretary of State office.

The ballot will include the City Commissioner Place 2 race between incumbent Rob Durham and challenger Gary Mercer, as well as the uncontested races for Mayor (Bob Sims) and Commissioner Place 1 (Russell Blue). The ballot will also include the  reauthorization a ¼ of 1 percent (0.0025) sales tax used for the City’s street maintenance fund. The sales tax used for the street maintenance fund is already in place but is required to be renewed every four years.

Because of the postponed election, Durham has remained in office as commissioner passed the usual May election, and the Texas State Comptroller’s office is allowing the city to continue to collect the street maintenance fund sales tax until December.

Click here to read the Candidate Profiles for Gary Mercer and Rob Durham.

Tax Office Closed

The Stephens County Tax Office will be closed for all business transactions other than Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, because the staff will be assisting with election and voting needs all day. The Tax Office will re-open on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

“Please understand and respect that we will have our hands full assisting voters and our election precinct judges at their five different respective locations, in addition to the behind the scenes work necessary to prepare for smooth, and successful Election Returns once the polls close,” said Latham, who is the Stephens County Tax Assessor-Collector as well as the Elections Administrator. “Business as usual will resume the day after the election. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding!”

The Tax Office will not be conducting any non-election business today, in person or over the phone.