The 2020 general election is a rare one in that city council, school board, and special district elections will be held at the same time as the national, state, and county elections.
Orange County Elections Administrator Tina Barrow said her office has worked out 67 combinations of ballots based on addresses. For example, some people will vote for the Orange City Council and the Bridge City school board.
Early voting is set to begin on Tuesday, October 13. Governor Greg Abbott because of the pandemic added extra days from the usual start of October 19. However, this week Texas Republican Chair Allen West and Texas Agriculture Commissioner sued Abbott to stop the extra days.
The school, city and special district elections are usually held in May, but Abbott canceled them statewide because of the pandemic. The West Orange-Cove and Little Cypress-Mauriceville school districts were able to cancel elections because of no contested races.
The Orangefield ISD usually has board elections in November because it is not within a city limits. Early voting for Orangefield this year will be at the four county sites, not the district’s administration building.
Two board incumbents, Dr. Ronald Risinger and Jesse Fremont, are not running for reelection. The only contested race in Orangefield will be for Place 3 currently held by Fremont. Jude Graffagnino and Juan Gonzales are running for the seat.
Other local city, school, and special districts with contested races on ballots are:
Orange County Drainage District: Precinct 2 incumbent J.B. Arrington is facing Larry Ancelot. Precinct incumbent Randy Fuselier is running against James Scales.
Orange City Council: At-Large Position 6 with incumbent Paul Burch challenged by Charles Ray Thomas.
Pinehurst City Council: Mayor Dan Mohon is facing Troy Pierce.
Bridge City City Council: Place 2 incumbent Mike Reid is running against Kenneth Prosperie.
Bridge City School Board: Place 6 incumbent Michael C. Johnson challenged by Keith A. Jones. Place 7 incumbent Mark Anderson is facing Cory L. Mitchell.
The early voting sites will be at the Orange Public Library, Orange County Expo Center, Orange County Airport, and Raymond Gould Community Center in Vidor.
Barrow said any registered voter may go to their choice of early sites, but must go to an assigned neighborhood box on Election Day, November 3.
The early voting sites will use the touch-screen voting machines the county has used for a couple of years. The machines give voters a chance to double check their choices. Upon final approval by the voter, the machine produces a card with the choices. The voter then places the card in the ballot box.
Barrow said if the voter sees the card and it does not have the correct choices, the voter can appeal to the election judge. The ballot can be marked as “spoiled” and the voter begins again. However, once the card is placed inside the ballot box, it is final.
The county will have extended hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., for early voting on three Tuesdays, October 13, October 20, and October 27.
Otherwise, daily hours for early voting will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The days will be Tuesday, October 13, through Saturday October 17. Then Monday, October 19, through Saturday October 24. The third week will be Monday October 26, through Friday, October 30.
Barrow said social distancing with six feet between people will be observed, so the lines will appear longer than usual. “We urge everyone to wear a mask,” she said.
Election workers will be sanitizing the sites and equipment.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Social Media