Early voting for the Republican and Democratic primary races starts Tuesday and runs through February 26.
The dates and hours in Orange County will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, through Saturday, February 20. Boxes will open again from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, February 22, through Friday, February 26.
The early voting sites are the Orange Public Library, 220 North Fifth Street in Orange; Bridge City Public Works Building, 220 Nitsche Street in Bridge City; Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department, 10691 North Highway 62 in Mauriceville, and Raymond Gould Community Center, 385 Claiborne Street in Vidor. Registered Orange County voters may cast ballots at any of the sites.
Voters may participate in only one party primary and election. In Orange County, the Democratic Party has no candidates for local offices, except for the position of county chair. Incumbent Democratic chair Deborah Mitchell is being challenged by Donald G. Brown.
The Republican Party has several contested local races. Countywide races have incumbent Sheriff Keith Merritt facing David W. Smith, incumbent County Clerk Brandy Robertson running against Trish Williams, and Debbie (Dubois) Meaux and Karen Fisher vying for county tax assessor-collector. Incumbent Lynda Gunstream is retiring.
For Precinct 1 county commissioner, Gary Hinote, Shirley Zimmerman, Ryan Peabody, Bobby Manshack and Johnny Trahan are on the ballot. Incumbent David Dubose is not running.
In the Precinct 3 county commissioner race, John Gothia is challenging incumbent John Banken.
Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 have contested races for constable. In Precinct 2, incumbent David Cagle is facing Jeremiah Gunter. Precinct 4 incumbent Weldon Peveto is running against Jimmy Lane Mooney.
Other local offices on the Republican ballot are held by incumbents running unopposed.
The primary elections will be held March 1 with the runoff date May 24. Voters going to boxes must show valid, approved photo identification. Voters may apply to receive a mail-in ballot without the ID.
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