Breckenridge Texan

The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming City of Breckenridge election is Thursday, April 6. The ballot will include the contested race for City Commission Place 4 and the Local Option Election.

Running for Place 4 are incumbent Gary Mercer and  Raymond S. Ensey. Vince Moore is running unopposed for Place 3.

At the same time as the City Commission election, there will be a Local Option Election for the City of Breckenridge. The election will be to decide whether or not to allow the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages and liquor, in Breckenridge. The law would allow restaurants and bars, with the proper licensing, to sell alcohol-based drinks without requiring customers to have a membership. Additionally, if approved by the voters, the law will allow liquor stores within the city limits.

Because the Local Option Election applies to Breckenridge, only registered voters who live within the city limits may vote.

The election will be May 6 at the City of Breckenridge’s office at 105 N. Rose Ave. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Early Voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24-28 and May 1-2 at the City Offices, 105 N. Rose. Ave.

Voter Registration

Breckenridge residents who want to vote in the election must be registered to vote no later than April 6, 2023.

To register to vote, you will need to go to the Stephens County Tax Office/Voter Registrar’s office in the courthouse and fill out a voter registration application. Another option is to fill out an online application at https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp, but you will still need to print out the application and take it to the Stephens County Voter Registrar’s office.

If  you are not sure whether or not you’re already registered to vote, you can check your registration status online at https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do.

Voter ID

When you go to the polls to vote, you need to have an acceptable form of a photo ID.

According to the State of Texas, acceptable forms of photo ID include:

• 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.

Election Identification Certificates are available from DPS driver license offices during regular business hours.

If you do not have one of those seven forms of ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, the State of Texas will allow some alternative forms of ID. Click here to read more about how to vote if you do not have an approved ID.

For more information about the election, contact Breckenridge City Secretary Jessica Sutter, at 254-559-8287.