(Seguin) — Let the voting begin. Today marks the first day of early voting for the March 3 Republican and Democratic Primary elections. The election is part of the 2020 Presidential Election Calendar.
Guadalupe County Elections Administrator Lisa Hayes says six regular early voting locations will once again be in operation for local voters. Those locations include the Seguin Elections Office at 215 S. Milam St; the Schertz Elections Office Annex at 1101 Elbel Rd; Grace Church at 3240 FM 725; the Central Texas Technology Center at 2189 FM 758, New Berlin City Hall at 9180 FM 775 and the Cibolo Fire Station #2.
Hayes says like in every primary election, the important reminder for all voters is that they will have to choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot while signing in. All locally contested races for Seguin and Guadalupe County appear on the Republican ballot. There are no locally contested Democratic races although both ballots have nomination races for state positions and most importantly, the nomination for the President of the United States.
Voters are reminded that voting in a party primary does not bind them to vote for that same party’s candidates in November. Hayes say you can vote for any candidate from any party or even independent candidates with no party affiliation during the November General Election.
“One of the most important things for the voters to know is that this is a party primary election so the parties are doing a joint primary which means they are sharing polling locations and machines and co-workers but when the voters come to the poll, they are going to have to select either a Democratic ballot or a Republican ballot for the Primary. In this election, the parties have separate ballots and so the voters will have to make a choice between those two. In November, all of the different party candidates will be on one ballot so they can vote one ballot at that time but in this election, it is a party primary so they are going to have to come prepared to make a decision on which party ballot they’d like to have,” said Hayes.
Again, Hayes reminds local votes that most campaign signs that they are seeing around the county such as Guadalupe County Sheriff appear on the Republican ballot.
“There are no Democratic candidates at the county level for Guadalupe County for this election so there are several contested races at the county level on the Republican ballot so that is an important distinction for the voters to be aware of,” said Hayes.
Hayes says helping voters to understand the process is often times the most difficult part of the job when it comes to choosing their ballots at the polls.
“It is difficult because it is a party primary so voters who might typically not vote one party or the other often make a different choice in the primary based on who is on the ballot locally and that can be a little confusing,” said Hayes.
Hayes says as in most presidential election years, turnout is more than average and encourages individuals to take advantage of the early voting process.
“We have 12 days of early voting. So, we encouraged the voters to come out and vote early. We have six early voting locations for their convenience. We have a Saturday of early voting and a Sunday of early voting as well as Monday through Friday — of two different weeks so we are hoping that the voters take advantage of these convenient hours and come out and vote early,” said Hayes.
Hayes says the county’s adoption of Vote Centers allows any Guadalupe County registered voter the opportunity to cast a ballot at any of the six early voting polling locations. She says this also holds true for election day when voters can vote at any location regardless of the precinct in which they reside.
Early voting will be held today through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. Early voting will continue Monday, Feb. 24 through Friday, Feb. 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sample ballots are available at co.guadalupe.tx.us.
The handful of locally contested races appearing on the March 2020 Republican Primary Election include campaigns such as the position of Guadalupe County Sheriff. Incumbent Arnold Zwicke faces Jimmy Harless, Guadalupe County Constable Pct. 2 for the county wide position.
Greg Seidenberger, Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 1, faces newcomer Grumpy Azzoz.
The seat for Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 3 is also up for grabs. Longtime Commissioner Jim Wolverton has chosen not to seek re-election. Candidates seeking the position include former Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter and former Schertz City Councilman Cedric Edwards.
Two candidates will also go head to head for the position of Guadalupe County Constable Pct. 2. They include candidates Trey Kelly and Mark Reyes. Kelly is retired from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office while Reyes currently serves the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office as a sergeant of patrol. The position was vacated by Harless, who, again, is seeking the position of county sheriff.
Also appearing on the Republican ballot is the race for the 25th Judicial District seat which serves Seguin and Guadalupe County. Judge William “Bill” Old III is seeking re-election for the position that also includes the counties of Gonzales, Lavaca and Colorado. Old is campaigning against challenger Jacqueline Phillips Ott. Ott currently serves as a Guadalupe County prosecutor.
Again, there are no locally contested races on the Democratic ballot for Guadalupe County voters. The Primary Election is slated for Tuesday, March 3.
Let the voting begin
