Public encouraged to check out new elections office

(Seguin) – Guadalupe County is rolling out the welcome mat at its new Elections Administration Office.

An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new elections office will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. The event will be held at the facility’s new location at 3251 State Highway 123 North. The county is encouraging residents to step inside and tour the facility.

Carmen Davila, Guadalupe County public information officer, says it’s an important time for residents to stop by and get acquainted with the office especially before voting season begins.

“This is a new location, and we know that it is going to be different, but we encourage people to stop by before early voting begins – before election night — just to become familiar with the location. You are welcome to come in, see the facility and just be familiar with the space. It’s a new area off of Highway 123 so it is a little busier in the area, but we encourage people to become familiar with this site,” said Davila.

The former USDA building and 7,800-square-foot facility recently underwent extensive internal renovations to meet the county’s growing election needs. The facility includes a large open area for setting up voting equipment, multiple office spaces, a ballot board meeting room, and a secure tabulation area. A new 3,200 square-foot warehouse was also constructed to provide secure, climate-controlled storage for election equipment.

County leaders say the investment was necessary to prepare for Guadalupe County’s rapid growth. Precinct 2 Commissioner Drew Engelke noted that the previous elections office had long been outgrown and praised the move as both timely and forward-thinking. Elections Administrator Lisa Hays added that the new site is especially important as state law now requires both early voting and election day voting to be held at the county’s election office.

County officials say the $3.5 million capital project began construction in October 2024 and was completed this past August, staying within budget. The land and existing facility were originally purchased in 2022 for $2.15 million.

The previous elections office on South Milam Street, which served the county for more than two decades, has now been turned into the county’s purchasing department.