With politics in the spotlight every day, people in Orange County are making sure they are registered to vote in the November general election. The registration deadline is Tuesday.
Besides the regular elections, the West Orange-Cove CISD is having a school bond election.
County Elections Administrator Tina Barrow said almost as many people have filled out new registration forms as during the 2016 presidential election year. For the first nine months of 2016, the county had 5,083 registration cards. This year during the first nine months, 4,963 filled out cards. Usually presidential election years draw more attention, she said.
Registration cards are at the Elections Administration Office, 206 Border Street in Orange, to the west of the main courthouse. Forms are also online through the Texas Secretary of State, but Barrow said it is best to turn in the forms at her office to assure the deadline is met.
The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. Barrow said the office will stay open through the lunch hour on Monday and Tuesday. Monday is Columbus Day, but the county does not take off for the observance.
People will need a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number to register.
She said if anyone has questions on whether they are registered they can call the office at 409-882-7973.
Early voting for the November 6 election starts October 22 and runs through November 2.
This year, Orange County has a contested race for Precinct 2 commissioner between Theresa Adams Beauchamp, Republican, and Deborah Mitchell, Democrat. Also, the Precinct 1 justice of the peace race has Republican Herschel Stagner, who was appointed to the position for an unexpired term, facing Democrat Gail Shaw Barnett.
Orange County’s Congressional seat has Democratic challenger Dayna Steele running against the incumbent, Republican Brian Babin, for the Texas District 36.
In the Texas Legislature, State Representative Dade Phelan is running unopposed for re-election. State Senator Robert Nichols, a Republican, is facing Democratic challenger Shirley Layton and Libertarian Bruce Quarles.
The Texas race for U.S. Senate is drawing national attention with incumbent Republican Ted Cruz drawing opposition from Democrat Beto O’Rourke. Libertarian Neal M. Dikeman is also running.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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